This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42828023
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
South Korea hospital fire kills at least 37 people | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 37 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 death 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 death toll is expected to rise with several of the injured in critical condition. |
Firefighters said the victims appeared to have died from smoke inhalation. Three hospital medical staff - a doctor, nurse and nursing assistant - are among the victims. | |
Authorities have given varying death tolls, with police earlier saying 41 had died, but fire officials and hospital sources now say at least 37 are dead. | |
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 specialised in caring for elderly people with long-term needs, as well as other patients, reported the daily JoongAng Ilbo. | The hospital specialised in caring for elderly people with long-term needs, as well as other patients, reported the daily JoongAng Ilbo. |
The paper quoted a surviving patient, Jang Yeong-jae, as saying that he was on the second floor when nurses screamed "Fire!" in the hallway and urged people to evacuate. | The paper quoted a surviving patient, Jang Yeong-jae, as saying that he was on the second floor when nurses screamed "Fire!" in the hallway and urged people to evacuate. |
'Falling over and screaming' | 'Falling over and screaming' |
"But when I opened the exit door, the whole stairway was filled with dark smoke and I couldn't see a thing," he said. | "But when I opened the exit door, the whole stairway was filled with dark smoke and I couldn't see a thing," he said. |
"Everybody was running around in panic, falling over and screaming as smoke filled the rooms." | "Everybody was running around in panic, falling over and screaming as smoke filled the rooms." |
Mr Jang said he ripped open window screens and escaped down a ladder put up by firefighters. | Mr Jang said he ripped open window screens and escaped down a ladder put up by firefighters. |
"There were so many elderly patients on other floors... I wonder if they escaped safely," Mr Jang's wife was quoted as saying. | "There were so many elderly patients on other floors... I wonder if they escaped safely," Mr Jang's wife was quoted as saying. |
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 hospital building did not have any fire sprinklers installed, local media said. | 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 they were in the process of being fitted in the adjoining nursing home. | Under current laws, the building was not required to have fire sprinklers, but they were in the process of being fitted in the adjoining nursing home. |
A new law that is due to come into force on 30 June will make sprinklers compulsory for nursing homes. | A new law that is due to come into force on 30 June will make 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. |
Ninety-four patients from the adjacent nursing home were safely evacuated. | Ninety-four patients from the adjacent nursing home were safely evacuated. |
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. |
Senior officials from both governing and opposition parties travelled to Miryang to offer their condolences and call for a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy. | Senior officials from both governing and 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, was reported as saying by Yonhap news agency. | "We hope that all-out efforts are made to prevent additional victims," Kim Hyun, the spokeswoman of the ruling Democratic Party, was reported as saying by Yonhap news agency. |
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 were killed in a blaze at a public gym. | |
The owner and manager of the building were later arrested over multiple safety lapses, including malfunctioning sprinkler systems. |