Jinhae: A warship caught fire in late July due to crew members' failure to comply with safety regulations, the Navy said Monday, as it concluded its monthslong investigation into the accident that severely destroyed the 2,600-ton landing ship.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the fire occurred at an auxiliary engine system on the ROKS Hyang Ro Bong as the vessel was entering the port in Jinhae, some 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 31 and was extinguished the following day. A first-class petty officer continues to receive treatment for burns, while another 35 crew members received treatment for inhaling smoke but were released without further health issues.

Following a probe by an investigative committee, the Navy said two rank-and-file soldiers who were assigned to work in the engine room failed to abide by safety rules, leaving a valve open in the process of handling fuel two days prior to the accident. On the day the fire broke out, the first-class petty officer closed the valve, without suspending an internal pump as indicated in safety regulations, causing pressure to build up and rupture a hose. Fuel leaked from the hose and subsequently led to the blaze, according to officials.

The Navy also attributed the accident to a lack of crew members, which has prompted work overload for officers, as the armed service faces difficulties in recruiting non-commissioned officers to work on warships. To prevent similar accidents, the armed service said it plans to strengthen safety training and response capabilities of service members, in addition to drawing up measures to cope with overall systemic issues.

The ROKS Hyang Ro Bong, which has been in service for the past 26 years, had about four years left until it was set to be decommissioned. The Navy said while an in-depth inspection of the damaged warship is under way through the end of December, the landing ship is likely to be retired given the recovery cost.