Fatal fire at Busan hotel construction site claims at least six lives

Friday 14 February 2025 - 07:29

A deadly fire has claimed the lives of at least six individuals at a hotel construction site in Busan, South Korea. The incident occurred Friday morning and quickly escalated. Firefighters, including a team of 90 personnel, responded to the blaze, deploying helicopters to rescue trapped workers, including 14 from the building's rooftop.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities still determining the exact number of people inside the building at the time of the fire. Over 100 people were evacuated from the site, but it's unclear if all workers have been safely rescued. Additionally, at least seven individuals sustained injuries, and the count of wounded is still being confirmed.

While the fire's cause remains under investigation, early reports suggest that insulation materials stored on the first floor may have played a role. The hotel, part of the luxury Banyan Tree group from Singapore, was under construction at the time of the fire. This incident marks the second major fire in Busan in recent weeks, following a plane fire at Gimhae International Airport on January 28.