Fighting flames: A firefighter standing in front of a commercial building that was damaged in a fire at the Bundang district in Seongnam. — AFP
Hundreds of people were rescued or evacuated after a fire broke out at a large commercial building in the South Korean city of Seongnam, fire officials said.
More than 260 firefighters and 80 vehicles were deployed to the scene of the blaze, which was extinguished about an hour and a half after it was first reported at around 4.30pm on Friday, according to the Gyeonggi provincial fire department.
The department said emergency workers have so far rescued 240 people, while another 70 managed to exit the eight-storey building unaided.
About 28 people sustained light injuries, including smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of serious injuries.
The department said emergency workers were still searching the site to ensure no one was trapped inside.
The department said the fire started at a restaurant on the first floor.
The cause wasn’t immediately known. — AP
