A fire broke out in an eight-storey commercial building in Seongnam, South Korea, on Friday afternoon, prompting the evacuation and rescue of hundreds of people.
The blaze, reported at around 4:30 p.m., began on the building’s first floor, according to the Gyeonggi provincial fire department.
Over 260 firefighters and 80 emergency vehicles were deployed, successfully extinguishing the flames in approximately 90 minutes.
Authorities reported that 240 people were rescued by emergency workers, while another 70 managed to leave the building unaided. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, though 28 people sustained minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.
Footage from local news channels showed intense flames engulfing the lower floors of the building as thick black smoke billowed upward. Some occupants were seen gathered on the roof, awaiting rescue by emergency teams.
Emergency workers are continuing their search to ensure no one remains trapped inside.
The building, which also includes five underground levels, housed approximately 300 people at the time of the fire. The cause of the incident remains under investigation, with initial reports indicating it started in a restaurant on the ground floor.
