A gas explosion set off a major fire recently at a residential housing complex in Hyesan, Yanggang Province. This is the second gas-related fire in the area since last August.
According to a Daily NK source in Yanggang Province on July 1, the explosion took place at 1 PM on June 27 due to a gas (liquified petroleum gas, LPG) leak at the home of a man in his 40s, surnamed Choi, in the Hyegang District of Hyesan. More than 20 homes were engulfed by powerful flames caused by the explosion.
The area has a large number of two-story buildings divided into small apartments (called “harmonica houses” in North Korea). The close proximity of each apartment in these complexes has created the opportunity for small fires to turn into conflagrations in the past.
Just like in August, the local fire department failed to arrive at the scene until two hours after the fire began – and after local residents had already subdued the blaze.
While North Korean authorities did apologize for responding late to the fire last August, the fire department’s failure to respond promptly this time suggests that the authorities have not taken concrete steps to improve response times.
Although the incident did not cause any casualties, the 20 or so houses affected by the fire have suffered extensive damage.
“It was impossible to retrieve anything – clothing, food, or other possessions – due to the violent flames, so [the victims] ended up on the streets,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Despite these circumstances, [the authorities] have yet to provide them with emergency essentials, like food or blankets.”
Back in January, North Korean authorities forced people to take up “home and family property insurance,” offering to provide them with compensation for incidents involving fires or explosions, or natural weather events, such as floods.
“Those who suffered property damage this time around are preparing to claim their compensation in accordance with their ‘insurance agreements,’” the source said. Based on the terms and conditions of these agreements, people paying an annual premium of KPW 4,000 can be provided up to KPW 1 million in compensation.
*Translated by Kyungmin Kim
