Korea Electric Power Corporation's Sejong Branch Leads Emergency Response
A basement fire at an apartment complex in Sejong on May 1 knocked out power, leaving residents to contend with ongoing disruptions.
On the afternoon of May 2, crews installed temporary restrooms and emergency generators across the complex, and relief supplies began arriving, turning the site into a disaster-relief operation.
Residents continued to visit the incident command post established in a corner of the parking lot; tempers occasionally flared over the disruption.
Hundreds of municipal officials, police officers and firefighters—including staff from Sejong City Hall—are on site addressing residents’ complaints.
The fire broke out around 8 p.m. the previous evening in a basement electrical room.
Although there were no injuries, the complex’s primary and backup power distribution panels—responsible for supplying electricity to the entire development—were destroyed in the blaze.
Power was cut to 1,429 households, and water service was also disrupted, complicating daily life for residents.
Of roughly 5,000 residents, many have remained in their units, while others moved to temporary shelters set up by Sejong City or to nearby hotels.
Relief Supplies for Residents
Authorities estimate it will take at least four days to repair the damaged distribution panels and complete emergency power restoration, so residents will likely face continued inconvenience in the near term.
Officials warn that full restoration could take an additional two to three weeks.
Sejong City said it is dedicating all available administrative resources to resident safety and to easing the disruption. The city has opened nearby community centers and senior centers as temporary lodging for those who need places to stay.
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Sanghyun Lee (idealtype@yna.co.kr)
