Hundreds of people were forced to flee a fire that broke out in an eight-story commercial building south of Seoul on Friday afternoon. Video footage showed several individuals trapped on the roof awaiting rescue.
Fire officials received reports of the fire around 4:40 p.m. in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and arrived at the scene within an hour. Approximately 300 people were present in the building at the time of the blaze.
Responders reported that they had rescued 240 individuals, while another 70 evacuated the building independently. No fatalities were reported; however, nearly 30 people were hospitalized for minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.
Footage from a local news channel depicted the lower floors of the building engulfed in flames, with black smoke billowing from the windows as people gathered on the roof waiting for rescue.
Officials indicated that the fire originated on the first floor, but the official cause has yet to be determined. The building also has five underground stories.