The fire that broke out in the Korail slum on Tuesday — one that reportedly required 19 fire service units and over 16 hours to be doused — has once again unearthed a grim truth: Our city remains dangerously underprepared against fire hazards.
The fire was the latest of many similar tragedies that the area in particular, and others alike, has experienced one too many times in the past, leaving scores of homes destroyed and thousands homeless.
This is not simply an accident, but an outcome of the urban neglect that we as a nation have witnessed, enabled, and even encouraged for decades. Densely packed houses, narrow lanes, and a lack of basic fire-safety infrastructure — in spite of continued regular use of highly flammable materials — have all contributed to the capital becoming a time bomb for all its residents.
Fire safety is a pressing concern across the country, with the impoverished communities most at risk, and it is a matter that must be brought into focus immediately.
This should be a wake up call for us. The authorities must begin taking steps to enforce safer building codes, ensure ready access for emergency services, provide more accessible water supply, and build wider lanes for better escape routes. Alternatives to the current fire-prone settlements and infrastructure scattered throughout the city must also be designed for long-term precautions against such incidents..
We cannot write this incident off as another unfortunate happenstance; it is high time we recognize the warning signals that have been sounding for far too long now, and do the needful to at least attempt to provide our residents with a safer future.
