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1st LD: Four dead, 100 wounded in S.Korean officetel building fire

Xinhua, January 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Four people have been confirmed dead, with 100 others injured, in a South Korean fire that broke out in a 10-story officetel building, Yonhap News Agency reported Saturday citing police officers.

The fire erupted at about 9:27 a.m. local time in an officetel building in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, leaving four dead and 100 wounded.

Among those wounded who inhaled toxic gas, 10 are suffering serious injuries, raising possibilities for additional casualties.

The fire was originally believed to have begun from a car parked on the ground floor, but police are investigating into suspicions of arson attack.

The fire moved to four buildings next to the officetel, and was extinguished more than two hours later.

Four fire fighting helicopters rushed to the site, and around 1, 000 police officers were sent to the place to help rescue efforts.

The officetel building is located near a subway station and in narrow streets, causing difficulties for firefighters to approach and put out the fire.

Initially, most of the residents were evacuated, but some waited for rescue on the roof as the fire blocked off the main entrance and prevented residents from evacuating. Endi