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Seven dead, 12 injured in hotel fire in South Korea

A fire at a hotel in South Korea has eliminated seven people and hurt 12 others, fire authorities stated on Friday.

The fire began on the eighth floor of the nine-story hotel in Bucheon, simply west of the capital Seoul at around 7:40 p.m. ( 1040 GMT) on Thursday, before being put out in about 2 hours, according to the interior ministry.

Seven individuals died, mainly visitors, and 12 were sent out to health centers for treatment, including three in important condition, said Lee Sang-don, an official at the Bucheon fire station.

Amongst those killed were a couple who leapt out the windows onto a blow-up mattress installed in front of the structure, Lee stated.

It was unfolded usually however appeared to have actually turned over when they leapt down, he informed a televised rundown.

Authorities were checking out the precise cause of the occurrence, including there were no sprinklers inside, which was not necessary when the structure was completed in 2003, Lee added.

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min purchased full-scale rescue efforts by mobilising all readily available resources, the ministry said.

Some 70 vehicles and 160 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, Yonhap news company said, mentioning provincial fire authorities.

(source: Reuters)