Tragic Hotel Fire in South Korea Claims Seven Lives

A hotel fire in Bucheon, South Korea, resulted in seven fatalities and 12 injuries. The fire, which started on the eighth floor, was controlled in two hours. The incident saw a couple jumping out of windows, leading to their deaths. Investigations are ongoing.

A devastating fire at a hotel in Bucheon, South Korea, has resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to 12 others, fire authorities confirmed on Friday.

The fire ignited on the eighth floor of the nine-story building at around 7:40 p.m. (1040 GMT) on Thursday, and was extinguished after two hours. According to the interior ministry, among the deceased were mostly guests, and 12 individuals were hospitalized, with three in critical condition.

Tragically, a couple leaped from the windows onto an air mattress, which reportedly flipped over upon impact, resulting in their deaths. Bucheon fire station official Lee Sang-don stated that the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Notably, the building lacked sprinklers as they were not mandatory when it was constructed in 2003. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min has directed exhaustive rescue efforts, deploying substantial resources to the scene.

In response, approximately 70 vehicles and 160 firefighters were mobilized, as reported by Yonhap news agency, citing provincial fire authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)