SEOUL: The hotel fire in South Korea that left seven people dead and 12 others injured was likely caused by a short circuit or other electrical causes, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday (Aug 23).
The blaze erupted on Thursday night in a room on the eighth floor of a hotel in Bucheon, around 25km west of Seoul. The fire was put out in about three hours.
A guest had smelled something burning after entering the room where the fire started and asked the hotel for a room change, Yonhap reported, citing Cho Seon-ho, chief of the Gyeonggi-do fire service.
“We believe an electrical factor is the most likely cause,” Cho said during a briefing to Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who was visiting the site.
Firefighters suspect the fire began in the empty room and smoke rapidly spread, reported the news agency.
“Motels tend to have narrow corridors and accumulate large amounts of heat, making it difficult for guests to evacuate,” Cho said.
Seven hotel guests in their 20s to 50s lost their lives, reported Yonhap.
Two of those who died had jumped out a window towards an air mattress set up by firefighters.
Video footage showed that the two people died after jumping out the hotel windows towards an air mattress set up by firefighters.
According to Yonhap, the mattress was seen flipping after the first person landed on the edge of it. The second person jumped a few seconds later but ended up on the ground instead of the mattress.
Of the 12 who were injured, three are said to be in a serious condition.
The provincial police have formed an 84-person investigation team to look into the blaze.
Police said the investigation will be focused on determining the cause of the fire and possible negligence in building management, Yonhap reported.
