Sprinkler Absence Blamed in Deadly South Korean Hotel Blaze

A fire that killed seven at a South Korean hotel may have been worsened by lack of sprinklers, officials suggest. Twelve others were injured due to toxic smoke from the blaze in Bucheon. Investigators believe the fire was likely caused by electrical issues in an unoccupied room on the eighth floor.

A tragic fire at a South Korean hotel took the lives of seven people, with officials citing the lack of sprinklers as a potentially exacerbating factor.

At least 12 were injured by toxic smoke when the fire erupted Thursday evening in Bucheon, a city just west of Seoul. The blaze began in an unoccupied room on the eighth floor. The room was not equipped with sprinklers, allowing toxic smoke to quickly fill the upper floors, endangering the occupants.

Lee Sang-don from the Bucheon Fire Station noted that the hotel, built in 2003, was not legally required to have a sprinkler system under pre-2017 regulations. An inspection team led by fire officials and forensic experts commenced an investigation, with initial suggestions pointing to electrical problems as the fire's cause.

(With inputs from agencies.)