2020 Icheon fire

{{short description|Fire in South Korea}}

{{expand Korean|topic=hist|date=May 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox event

| title = 2020 Icheon fire

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| time =

| date = 29 April 2020

| place = Icheon, South Korea

| coordinates =

| also known as =

| cause = Unclear - flammable material ignited & caused explosions{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-52472799|title=South Korea fire: Dozens killed in warehouse blaze in Icheon|publisher=BBC News|date=29 April 2020|accessdate=29 April 2020}}

| reported deaths = 39

| reported injuries = 10

| missing =

| reported property damage =

| suspects =

}}

A major fire occurred on 29 April 2020 at a construction site in Icheon, South Korea, killing 39 people and injuring another 10.{{cite web| title=이천의 비극' 12년만에 또···40명 사망 때도 유독가스 덮쳤다 |publisher=Joins.com |date=29 April 2020 |url=https://news.joins.com/article/23766440}}{{cite web|title=Construction Site Fire in South Korea Kills at Least 25: Yonhap|agency=Reuters|work=The New York Times|date=29 April 2020|accessdate=29 April 2020|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/04/29/world/asia/29reuters-southkorea-fire.html}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/30/south-korea-fire-kills-nearly-40-construction-workers|title=South Korea fire kills nearly 40 construction workers|work=The Guardian|date=29 April 2020|accessdate=29 April 2020}} Blood samples taken from 23 victims indicate most had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsies have been completed on 15 of the 39 people killed, as recommended by South Korea authorities, but has angered victims' families.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/05/01/South-Korea-authorities-recommend-autopsy-following-Icheon-fire/6831588350027/|title=South Korea authorities recommend autopsy following Icheon fire|website=UPI|accessdate=30 July 2020}} All killed workers were irregular or subcontract workers.

The building under construction has four floors above-ground and two more underground. The building did not have sprinklers or other obligatory safety measures.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/04/skor-m04.html|title=Devastating fire in South Korea kills at least 38 workers|first=Ben|last=McGrath|website=wsws.org|accessdate=30 July 2020}} The fire broke out when some 78 workers were in the sub-basement working on polyurethane foam.{{cite web |title=38 workers killed in Icheon construction site fire |date=29 April 2020 |accessdate=29 April 2020 |work=The Korea Herald|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200429000867}} The first explosion occurred around 13:30 (4:30 UTC). At least 10 explosions were heard.

Authorities launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and what safety regulations were violated.

An earlier fire at a refrigerated warehouse in Icheon on 7 January 2008 had killed 40 workers.