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South Korea fire toll rises to 40 | South Korea fire toll rises to 40 |
(19 minutes later) | |
Firefighters say 40 people are now believed to have died in a fire at a warehouse in South Korea. | |
Hundreds of firefighters were involved in the operation at Icheon, 80km (50 miles) south of Seoul. | Hundreds of firefighters were involved in the operation at Icheon, 80km (50 miles) south of Seoul. |
A local fire official told the Associated Press that rescuers were not expecting to find any more bodies. | A local fire official told the Associated Press that rescuers were not expecting to find any more bodies. |
The cause of the fire has not been determined but witnesses reported hearing loud explosions coming from the basement of the building. | The cause of the fire has not been determined but witnesses reported hearing loud explosions coming from the basement of the building. |
Kim Jung-keun of the Icheon fire department said he believed inflammable vapours from materials being used by the workers may been ignited by a spark. | Kim Jung-keun of the Icheon fire department said he believed inflammable vapours from materials being used by the workers may been ignited by a spark. |
"The blaze triggered a chain of explosions, gutting the basement quickly," he told AFP news agency. | "The blaze triggered a chain of explosions, gutting the basement quickly," he told AFP news agency. |
Senior fire department official Choi Jin-jong told Korea's Yonhap news agency that the explosions had destroyed the firefighting equipment in the basement, making it harder to tackle the blaze. | Senior fire department official Choi Jin-jong told Korea's Yonhap news agency that the explosions had destroyed the firefighting equipment in the basement, making it harder to tackle the blaze. |
Firefighting efforts were also hampered by thick, toxic smoke coming from the basement. | Firefighting efforts were also hampered by thick, toxic smoke coming from the basement. |
A local restaurateur told Yonhap: "There were loud bangs, flames shot up and one seriously burned woman ran into my restaurant crying for help." | A local restaurateur told Yonhap: "There were loud bangs, flames shot up and one seriously burned woman ran into my restaurant crying for help." |
Ten people were taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. | Ten people were taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. |
Yonhap reported that 57 people were in the building, a newly built cold storage facility, when the fire broke out. | Yonhap reported that 57 people were in the building, a newly built cold storage facility, when the fire broke out. |