Residents flee as fire devastates Seoul shanty town

"A massive blaze has swept through a shanty town on the outskirts of the South Korean capital, Seoul, destroying homes and sending residents fleeing. Nearly 300 firefighters fought the fire on Friday as it threatened Guryong, an impoverished area of the affluent Gangnam district in southern Seoul. No injuries or deaths have been reported thus far. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze about six hours after it started, according to officials."

"Local fire officer Jeong Gwang-hun told reporters during a televised briefing that emergency teams were conducting thorough searches of all damaged buildings for possible victims. More than 1,200 personnel, including firefighters and police officers, responded to the crisis, Jeong said, adding that the cause of the fire remained under investigation. The hillside community has suffered recurrent fires over the years, a risk experts link to its crowded dwellings constructed with highly combustible materials."

A massive blaze swept through Guryong shantytown on the outskirts of Seoul, destroying homes and sending residents fleeing. Nearly 300 firefighters initially battled the fire, and more than 1,200 personnel including firefighters and police ultimately responded. Firefighters contained the blaze about six hours after it started, and officials reported no injuries or deaths thus far while conducting thorough searches of damaged buildings. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Guryong's crowded, combustible dwellings have produced recurrent fires, and the settlement, formed in the 1980s by people displaced during urban redevelopment, contrasts sharply with nearby affluent Gangnam.

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