On Aug. 22, a devastating fire struck a hotel in Bucheon, resulting in seven deaths and twelve injuries.

The fire reportedly started due to an electrical fault in the air conditioner. The first emergency call was made at 7:39 p.m., but unclear communication led to a delayed response. Firefighters arrived at 7:43 p.m., by which time flames were visible from afar and thick smoke had already filled the hotel’s corridors.

The rapid spread of the fire was worsened by the motel’s lack of sprinklers and the presence of highly flammable materials like old carpets and furniture. It was found out that the hotel, built in 2003, was not required to have sprinklers under previous regulations.

“It wouldn’t have claimed so many lives if there were stricter safety regulations and more efficient emergency response systems,” Yena Kim (10), a news observer, said. “I hope that SIS also improves such safety measures to prevent future disasters.”