Tragic blaze at Korean hotel construction site claims six lives, injures 25

A devastating fire at a hotel construction site in Busan, South Korea has left at least six people dead and 25 others injured.

The incident occurred on February 14 morning at the Banyan Tree Hotel construction site in Gijang-gun, triggering a large-scale emergency response, Caliber.Az reports per Korean media.

The National Fire Agency reported that the fire was first detected at around 10:51 a.m. Authorities responded promptly, with firefighting teams arriving just nine minutes later. Helicopters were used to rescue individuals trapped on the building's 12th floor. Tragically, six people were found in a state of cardiac arrest, and their deaths were confirmed at 1:44 p.m.

In addition to the fatalities, 25 people sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation, and 14 others were rescued from the roof of the building. More than 100 construction workers managed to evacuate the site during the emergency. By 1:34 p.m., the majority of the fire had been extinguished, and search operations began within the building's interior. However, authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of workers who were inside the construction site at the time of the fire.

In response to the scale of the disaster, the Busan Fire Headquarters issued a level two emergency response alert, mobilizing personnel from 8 to 14 nearby fire stations. According to the National Fire Agency, a total of 124 fire trucks, 352 firefighters, and three fire helicopters were deployed to combat the blaze and assist with the search and rescue efforts.

While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities suspect that insulating materials located near the swimming pool on the building’s first floor may have contributed to the blaze.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety responded swiftly to the situation, sending an on-site situation manager at noon. Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered the immediate mobilization of all available personnel and equipment to aid in firefighting efforts. He emphasized the importance of "thorough search and rescue efforts to prevent any loss of life," while also ensuring the safety of firefighting personnel.

At 2 p.m., the Interior Ministry convened a situation assessment meeting with various governmental agencies. General Director for Disaster and Safety Management Yi Han-kyung urged the National Fire Agency to prioritize fire suppression and continue on-site search and rescue operations. He also instructed the Korean National Police Agency to ensure strict safety controls around the site.

Yi further requested the Busan Metropolitan Government activate its disaster safety headquarters to support the ongoing efforts, while the Ministry of Employment and Labor was tasked with overseeing the investigation into the cause of the fire.

By Vafa Guliyeva