Firefighter injured as retaining wall collapses during furniture factory blaze in Yangju

A firefighter was injured while battling a blaze at a furniture factory in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday.

The fire broke out at around 11:17 a.m. at a furniture factory in Yuyang-dong, Yangju.

At around noon, while firefighting operations were underway, a retaining wall collapsed and struck a firefighter in his 30s, identified by the surname A.

Buried under the debris, the firefighter sustained injuries to his ankle and leg and was taken to a hospital.

Five people, including factory workers, had evacuated early in the fire, and no further casualties were reported.

Fire authorities mobilized 29 pieces of equipment and 66 personnel, extinguishing the blaze 2 hours and 12 minutes after it broke out.

Police and fire authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage based on statements from factory workers and others.

After the fire broke out, the city of Yangju sent an emergency alert urging nearby residents to move away from the scene and asking drivers to take alternate routes.