South Korea: At least 37 dead in fire at hospital in Miryang city
Fire officials suspect the blaze started in the emergency room, but are yet to ascertain the cause.
At least 37 people died in a fire at a hospital in South Korea’s Miryang city on Friday, local daily The Korea Times reported. As many as 18 people were critically injured.
“As of 3.30 pm [12 noon Indian Standard Time], 37 were confirmed dead, 18 in critical condition and 113 with minor injuries,” Choi Manwoo, chief of Miryang city’s fire department, said. “The toll could rise because some of the injured are in very critical condition.” He said the hospital had no fire sprinklers.
The fire started around 7.30 am local time (4 am Indian Standard Time) at the first floor of the main building of Sejong Hospital in the city. The five-storey building housed a nursing home as well as the hospital.
The toll was earlier reported at 39, but was later revised.
“Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room,” Choi Manwoo told AP. However, he said, the cause of the fire was not immediately known.
“Most of the victims were found in the emergency ward on the first floor of the building,” Choi Manwoo told The Korea Times. “Others were found on the second and fifth floors.”
As many as 194 people were at the hospital when the fire broke out. All the patients had been evacuated, the fire chief said, adding that the blaze was put out in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency staff meeting to discuss the fire.
