SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- A Chinese national was booked Monday on charges of accidentally causing a fire at a cold storage warehouse in the southwestern county of Wando last week, which killed two fire fighters, police said.

The suspect, who was booked without detention, is suspected of causing the fire while using a torch to remove epoxy flooring, a highly flammable substance, as part of floor-leveling and repaving work, according to the Wando police station.

The suspect was said to have been working alone, which officials believe constitutes a violation of safety protocol requiring a two-person team when doing fire-related work.

The suspect's manager, who was said to have not been present at the site, was the first person to notify of the blaze, according to the officials.

Police are said to have determined the Chinese national is clearly at fault, as he used heating equipment, which is strictly restricted during work involving flammable materials like epoxy, while reviewing whether the suspect's manager can also be held accountable for violating safety protocols.

In this file photo provided by a reader on April 12, 2026, firefighters extinguish a blaze at a cold storage warehouse in the southwestern county of Wando. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

fairydust@yna.co.kr
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