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South Korea fire toll rises to 22 | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 22 people have died and 17 are reported to be missing after a fire at a warehouse in South Korea. | |
Hundreds of firefighters have been drafted in to battle the blaze in Icheon, 80km (50 miles) south of the capital, Seoul. | Hundreds of firefighters have been drafted in to battle the blaze in Icheon, 80km (50 miles) south of the capital, Seoul. |
Thick, toxic smoke has caused problems for emergency crews, who say the death toll could rise. | |
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but witnesses reported hearing explosions coming from the basement. | The cause of the fire is not yet known, but witnesses reported hearing explosions coming from the basement. |
A local restaurateur told Korea's Yonhap new agency: "There were loud bangs, flames shot up and one seriously burned woman ran into my restaurant crying for help." | A local restaurateur told Korea's Yonhap new agency: "There were loud bangs, flames shot up and one seriously burned woman ran into my restaurant crying for help." |
Ten people have been taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. | |
Icheon's fire department expressed concern that the death toll could rise. | Icheon's fire department expressed concern that the death toll could rise. |
"Additional bodies could be found as we continue the rescue operation," official Jin Sung-hun told the Associated Press. | "Additional bodies could be found as we continue the rescue operation," official Jin Sung-hun told the Associated Press. |
Another department official told AFP news agency 21 workers had managed to escape from the warehouse when the fire broke out. | Another department official told AFP news agency 21 workers had managed to escape from the warehouse when the fire broke out. |
The official said that the fire appeared to have started in the basement, where workers were using flammable painting materials. | The official said that the fire appeared to have started in the basement, where workers were using flammable painting materials. |