A fire broke out inside a gas tanker being built in a shipyard in southeastern South Korea Tuesday, killing one worker and injuring seven others.

The worker in his 50s died after inhaling toxic fumes. The seven workers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Fire officials suspect the fire was caused by a spark from a welder's torch inside the 85,000-ton tanker around 10:40 a.m. in the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Geoje Island.

Police and fire officials said about 130 people were working inside the tanker when the fire broke out. All the workers, except the eight, immediately escaped. (Yonhap)