A fire broke out around 8:10 a.m. on the 17th at an apartment in Changjeon-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, resulting in 2 deaths and 13 injuries.
According to the fire authorities, the fire started on the 14th floor of a 20-story apartment. About 80 residents of the building were evacuated, and the injured, including one who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), were transported to the hospital.
The deceased and the person who received CPR were confirmed to be residents living in the unit where the fire is believed to have started. Another cohabitant evacuated on their own.
Fire authorities responded to a report of 'black smoke' and declared response level 1, deploying 76 vehicles and 228 personnel to extinguish the fire. The fire department stated that there were no sprinklers installed on the 14th floor where the fire occurred.
This apartment complex, consisting of 950 units, was completed in 1998, and at the time of completion, the installation of sprinklers was mandatory only in buildings with 16 floors or more.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire.