World

29 die, 29 injured in South Korean building fire

South Korea building fire
Smoke rises as firefighters try to extinguish a fire at an eight-floor building in Jecheon, South Korea, on Thursday, December 21, 2017. Photo: AP

A fire broke out today at an eight-storey building in the central South Korean city of Jecheon, killing 29 people and injuring 29 others, officials said.

A Jecheon fire department official said the toll could rise as rescuers continue to search the building after putting out the fire. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.

He said many of the people who died had been using a public bath on the second and third floors, which made it harder for them to escape.

Organisers for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics said the Olympic torch relay had been scheduled to pass through Jecheon on Friday, but the route has been revised as a result of the tragedy.

Local media showed firefighters battling the blaze with trucks and helicopters, and a man jumping from a window as firefighters held a mattress below.

It was unclear what caused the fire but it likely began at the building's parking lot, according to fire officials. The building had several restaurants and leisure facilities, including a gym, the public bath and an indoor golf practice facility, the officials said.

Comments

29 die, 29 injured in South Korean building fire

South Korea building fire
Smoke rises as firefighters try to extinguish a fire at an eight-floor building in Jecheon, South Korea, on Thursday, December 21, 2017. Photo: AP

A fire broke out today at an eight-storey building in the central South Korean city of Jecheon, killing 29 people and injuring 29 others, officials said.

A Jecheon fire department official said the toll could rise as rescuers continue to search the building after putting out the fire. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.

He said many of the people who died had been using a public bath on the second and third floors, which made it harder for them to escape.

Organisers for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics said the Olympic torch relay had been scheduled to pass through Jecheon on Friday, but the route has been revised as a result of the tragedy.

Local media showed firefighters battling the blaze with trucks and helicopters, and a man jumping from a window as firefighters held a mattress below.

It was unclear what caused the fire but it likely began at the building's parking lot, according to fire officials. The building had several restaurants and leisure facilities, including a gym, the public bath and an indoor golf practice facility, the officials said.

Comments

স্বাস্থ্যসেবা সংস্কার

ভারতের ভিসা নিষেধাজ্ঞা: দেশের স্বাস্থ্যসেবা সংস্কারের এখনই সময়

প্রতি বছর প্রায় সাড়ে তিন লাখ বাংলাদেশি ভারতে চিকিৎসা নিতে যান। ভিসা বিধিনিষেধ দেশের স্বাস্থ্য খাতে সমস্যাগুলোর সমাধান ও বিদেশে যাওয়া রোগীদের দেশে চিকিৎসা দেওয়ার সুযোগ এনে দিয়েছে।

২ ঘণ্টা আগে