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Arson fear in deadly S Korea fire | Arson fear in deadly S Korea fire |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Seven people have been killed and three are in critical condition in a fire which swept through a boarding house in South Korea. | Seven people have been killed and three are in critical condition in a fire which swept through a boarding house in South Korea. |
The blaze broke out at about 0120 (1620 GMT) in the 10-storey building in Yongin city south of the capital Seoul. | The blaze broke out at about 0120 (1620 GMT) in the 10-storey building in Yongin city south of the capital Seoul. |
A firefighter and police official said arson was suspected, as the fire seemed to have started in two separate places. | A firefighter and police official said arson was suspected, as the fire seemed to have started in two separate places. |
Most of the victims were unable to escape from the building's maze of tiny rooms and narrow corridors. | Most of the victims were unable to escape from the building's maze of tiny rooms and narrow corridors. |
They suffered smoke inhalation. Among them was a 27-year-old man who died while being treated in hospital. | They suffered smoke inhalation. Among them was a 27-year-old man who died while being treated in hospital. |
Eight others who suffered minor injuries have been treated and allowed to return home. | Eight others who suffered minor injuries have been treated and allowed to return home. |
Firefighters said it had taken them about 40 minutes to get Friday's blaze under control. They were unable to reach some of the victims trapped on the 10th floor - said to contain 63 small residential rooms. | Firefighters said it had taken them about 40 minutes to get Friday's blaze under control. They were unable to reach some of the victims trapped on the 10th floor - said to contain 63 small residential rooms. |
"There were signs that the fire started in two different rooms, and those rooms are too distant to catch fire by the same cause," a police official said, according to local news agency Yonhap. | "There were signs that the fire started in two different rooms, and those rooms are too distant to catch fire by the same cause," a police official said, according to local news agency Yonhap. |
"Somebody may have set fire [to the rooms] one after the other." | "Somebody may have set fire [to the rooms] one after the other." |
He said an investigation was under way. | He said an investigation was under way. |
Small, cheap, rent-by-the-room guesthouses are common in Seoul's satellite towns - popular with students and those on low incomes. | Small, cheap, rent-by-the-room guesthouses are common in Seoul's satellite towns - popular with students and those on low incomes. |