Lankans unharmed in Korea detention centre blaze

KOREA: Two Sri Lankans who were among the people hurt on Sunday's blaze at a detention centre in the South Korean Port of Yeosu are in perfectly good health condition, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Korea Asitha Perera told the Daily News yesterday.

"However, there is an inquiry going on and the two Sri Lankans will have to give statements on the incident which took place at Chonju Detention Centre. At present they are in this detention centre (approximately 300 Km away from Seoul) since both the Sri Lankans are in Korea without valid visas," he said.

Two Sri Lankans will be repatriated to Sri Lanka once the ongoing inquiry is completed, the Ambassador said.

According to the Ambassador one of the Sri Lankans, Ranga Fernando who was supposed to have been mildly injured in the fire has informed him that he did not suffer from any burns whatsoever. However, he had some breathing disorder due to smoke inhalation.

Fernando has informed the Ambassador he and the other detainee Rasika Sampath were hospitalised and discharged on Monday (February 12). Both of the Sri Lankans are perfectly in good health condition.

"We have also contacted the Migrant Detention Centre in Chonju and they have informed us that the Justice Ministry in Korea has taken charge and will inquire into the fire at the Immigration Detention Facility. Once the investigations are completed by the Korean Government, we will be kept informed on the investigations," he said.

"However, we have made representations about the lack of emergency readiness at the detention centre to the authorities concerned."

At least nine foreign migrants including eight Chinese were killed and 18 others hurt due to a blaze which took place at Chonju Detention Centre in the South Korean port of Yeosu. The group included 42 Chinese, four from Uzbekistan, two from Kazahkstan, two from Sri Lanka and one each from India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Vietnam.