Dozens of people were trapped in a commercial building in Seongnam, South Korea, after a fire broke out on site. The information was reported by YTN television. Photos from the scene show a column of thick smoke rising above the buildings.
A fire broke out at a commercial building in Seongnam, a southern suburb of Seoul, just before 10 a.m. on Friday. 17 (9 in Poland) – reported the South Korean YTN television.
Fire in South KoreaReuters
Fire in South KoreaReuters
Pile of smoke and fire on the lower floors
The fire broke out in the kitchen of the restaurant on the ground floor of the building. The building also houses, among others, shops, sports facilities, medical clinics, a parking lot and a swimming pool where swimming lessons for children are held. According to The Korea Herald, there were many people in the building when the fire broke out.
YTN television showed a building with thick smoke rising above it. There was fire visible on the lower floors.
Several dozen people evacuated
After receiving information about the incident, 41 fire trucks and 103 firefighters were sent to the site. Within half an hour, the situation was under control, which allowed firefighters to enter the building to evacuate people trapped inside, local authorities said.
12 people suffered minor injuries, mainly caused by smoke inhalation. 40 people were rescued from the building, and 50 managed to get out on their own. Some people evacuated to the roof of the facility and waited there for help, the rescue services said. Seongnam, with a population of approximately one million people, is located in Gyeonggi Province in the north of the country.
Fire in South KoreaReuters
Main photo source: Reuters