[Suwan News = Reporter Kim Dong-ju] A fire broke out in a six-story commercial building on Rodeo Street in Wol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon.
The accident occurred at 11:06 p.m. on July 25, 2025, and
The Incheon Fire Department announced that 126 firefighters and 46 pieces of firefighting equipment were mobilized, and the fire was extinguished at 1:14 a.m., just two hours after it broke out.
According to fire officials, four people were injured; all were transported to the hospital, and one of them was reported to have experienced difficulty breathing.
Disasters Turned into Content: Do “Likes” Come Before “Lives”?
The fire that broke out in the heart of the city instantly plunged everyone into terror. And amid the shocking and urgent disaster scene, we witnessed a bizarre sight.
Although it was a life-threatening disaster, people began filming the scene with their cell phones as if nothing were wrong—or perhaps even out of curiosity.
As signs and other fixtures fell from the lower parts of the building engulfed in flames, people standing below watched the fire as if it were a movie, and the situation nearly resulted in a major loss of life.
To them, capturing a photo that would make headlines or content that would grab people’s attention seemed more important than the risk of casualties or the hard work of the firefighters who had been dispatched to put out the fire.
The Dangers of a Lack of Safety Awareness
A fire scene is a hazardous area where secondary incidents, such as explosions or collapses, can occur at any time. Approaching the scene to take photos is irresponsible behavior that puts both yourself and firefighters at risk.
Instead of reaching for your smartphone, the wisest course of action is to first get to a safe place and follow the instructions of the firefighters who have arrived on the scene.
If you witness a fire, you can report it immediately by calling 119 or using the "Emergency Report Now" app operated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Disasters are not merely a spectacle. I find myself reflecting on whether a safety mindset that protects lives is not the very value our society must uphold together.
Kim Dong-ju, Reporter
