2 dead, 13 injured after apartment fire in western Seoul

At least two people died and 13 were injured after a fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building Sunday morning in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

According to the Mapo Fire Station, the blaze started around 8:11 a.m. at a 20-story apartment complex in western Seoul. The blaze is reported to have started on the 14th floor, prompting evacuations of 89 residents.

Within minutes, authorities issued a level 1 emergency response, mobilizing a total of 252 personnel, including local government officials and police and fire authorities.

As of 10:42 a.m., the blaze was declared to have been completely extinguished.

According to fire authorities, one resident was found dead at the scene, while another was pronounced dead after being transported to the nearest hospital in a state of cardiac arrest.

Local media reported that the individuals pronounced dead were a mother and son. The husband and father in his 60s also resided with them but had managed to escape with some injuries.

Including the man in his 60s, 13 individuals in total were reported injured. Twelve out of the 13 were reported to have suffered light injuries.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The Mapo Fire Station stated that it plans to conduct a joint forensic investigation with police and forensics officials to identify the exact cause, though details regarding when the investigation will begin are still under discussion.

Fire authorities added that no sprinklers were installed on the 14th floor of the apartment building, as the Fire Services Act only required sprinklers to be installed on floors 16 and above at the time of the apartment's construction 27 years ago.