Embassy: Chinese victims from ROK blast to be identified after 2 weeks

ICHEON, S.KOREA, Jan.8 (Xinhua) -- The identities of 12 Chinese victims from a massive explosion at a warehouse in South Korea's Icheon city on Monday will be approved after two weeks due to the DNA tests, said an official of the Chinese Embassy on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the identities of two Chinese citizens killed in the explosion have been confirmed, said Yan Fenglan, consul general of the Chinese Embassy in South Korea. Yan arrived in Icheon early on the day to inspect the accident spot and visit families of Chinese victims.

A total of 12 Chinese were killed in the tragedy in Icheon, about 80 km southeast of Seoul, Yan said.

The identities of the remaining ten Chinese victims will be clear after two weeks when the DNA tests by the South Korean police come out, Yan said.

Another Chinese citizen injured in the accident is still in critical condition, Yan said.

Yan met with South Korean officials in Icheon and met with families of Chinese victims. She urged the South Korean side to take appropriate measures to deal with the casualties and promised to the families of Chinese victims that the embassy will do its utmost to protect the interests of Chinese citizens in South Korea.

According to the local government, among a total of 40 victims from Monday's explosion, there are 12 Chinese and one Uzbek nationality.

Local police are investigating into the cause of the tragedy. Police said the investigation will concentrate on the basement floor, where most of the dead were found on its passageway and ventilation facility.

Cheon Ho-seon, spokesman for President Roh Moo-hyun, said Tuesday that the Presidential Office will "do all the things it should" to identify the cause of the fire and respond to the victims.

President-elect Lee Myung-bak, who will take office on Feb. 25, paid an impromptu visit to the scene of the accident and met with families of the victims on Tuesday. He expressed condolence to the families of the casualties.

South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon announced early on the day that he will send a condolence letter to his Chinese counterpart. The Foreign Ministry will dispatch its top ambassador for consular affair, Gabriel Oh, to Icheon to help proceed the victims' funerals and compensation.

Local media said South Korean human rights activists will launch a joint organization to devise compensation measures for the workers from China.

The compensation measures are not yet clear.