A fire broke out in a villa in the Ojeong district of Bucheon, South Korea, early this morning, prompting the evacuation of five residents, officials said.
The blaze erupted at approximately 5:57 a.m. At a villa in Wonjong-dong, Ojeong-gu, according to a report from Yonhap News Agency. Firefighters extinguished the flames within 23 minutes, preventing any injuries.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, focusing on a lit candle found inside the basement level of the villa, Yonhap News reported. Police and fire officials are working to determine how the candle ignited surrounding materials.
The fire caused damage to both the interior and exterior of the basement unit, according to reports. KBS News reported the fire was fully extinguished by approximately 6:20 a.m.
Separately, a sinkhole measuring 3 meters in diameter and 1 meter in depth appeared on a road near the Ojeong district office on March 3rd, according to reports from both Yonhap News and MSN. While that incident did not result in any injuries, one lane of the two-lane road was temporarily closed for safety reasons. Bucheon city officials stated the sinkhole was likely caused by natural ground subsidence and that repairs were nearing completion as of March 3rd.
