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Hospital fire kills at least 39 people in South Korea | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 39 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a fire at a hospital in South Korea. | |
The blaze is thought to have started in the emergency room at Sejong Hospital in the south-eastern city of Miryang. | The blaze is thought to have started in the emergency room at Sejong Hospital in the south-eastern city of Miryang. |
About 200 patients were inside the building and an adjoining nursing home at the time. | About 200 patients were inside the building and an adjoining nursing home at the time. |
It is South Korea's deadliest fire in almost a decade and the toll is expected to rise with several of the injured in critical condition. | It is South Korea's deadliest fire in almost a decade and the toll is expected to rise with several of the injured in critical condition. |
Firefighters told the Yonhap news agency that the victims appeared to have died from smoke inhalation. Hospital medical staff, including a doctor and a nurse, are among the victims. | |
Authorities have given varying death tolls, with fire officials confirming 39 victims to the BBC, but police announcing 41 dead. | |
Fire chief Choi Man-woo told reporters the cause of the fire was not yet known. | Fire chief Choi Man-woo told reporters the cause of the fire was not yet known. |
"The victims came both from the hospital and the nursing home. Some died on their way to another hospital," news agency AFP quoted him as saying. | "The victims came both from the hospital and the nursing home. Some died on their way to another hospital," news agency AFP quoted him as saying. |
The hospital building did not have any fire sprinklers installed, local media said. | |
Under current laws, the building was not required to have fire sprinklers, but was in the process of fitting sprinklers in its adjoining nursing home. | |
A new law that is due to be rolled out by 30 June would have made sprinklers compulsory for nursing homes. | |
Mr Choi said the fire started around 07:30 local time (22:30 GMT on Thursday) and was put out in about three hours. | Mr Choi said the fire started around 07:30 local time (22:30 GMT on Thursday) and was put out in about three hours. |
According to Yonhap, 94 patients from the nursing home were safely evacuated from the building. | According to Yonhap, 94 patients from the nursing home were safely evacuated from the building. |
Pictures from the scene show the building engulfed by heavy grey smoke as well as patients being rescued. | Pictures from the scene show the building engulfed by heavy grey smoke as well as patients being rescued. |
South Korean President Moon Jae-in arranged an emergency meeting to discuss ways of dealing with the fire. | South Korean President Moon Jae-in arranged an emergency meeting to discuss ways of dealing with the fire. |
According to Yonhap news agency, senior officials from both the governing and the opposition parties travelled to Miryang to offer their condolences and call for a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy. | According to Yonhap news agency, senior officials from both the governing and the opposition parties travelled to Miryang to offer their condolences and call for a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy. |
"We hope that all-out efforts are made to prevent additional victims," Kim Hyun, the spokeswoman of the ruling Democratic Party, said according to Yonhap. | "We hope that all-out efforts are made to prevent additional victims," Kim Hyun, the spokeswoman of the ruling Democratic Party, said according to Yonhap. |
Miryang is about 270km (168 miles) south-east of the capital, Seoul. | Miryang is about 270km (168 miles) south-east of the capital, Seoul. |
The hospital has been operating since 2008. The nursing home and hospital between them have about 200 beds. | The hospital has been operating since 2008. The nursing home and hospital between them have about 200 beds. |
About 35 medical staff work at the hospital, according to provincial officials. | About 35 medical staff work at the hospital, according to provincial officials. |
The fire comes just a month after 29 people in the South Korean city of Jecheon were killed in a blaze at a public gym. | The fire comes just a month after 29 people in the South Korean city of Jecheon were killed in a blaze at a public gym. |