16 killed in South Korea building fire

At least 16 people died and over 10 were injured in a fire that engulfed a commercial building in South Korea's Jecheon city on Thursday, firefighters said.

The fire started in the afternoon from a vehicle in the basement parking lot of an eight-storey fitness centre in the city, 168 km southeast of Seoul, according to the authorities.

The victims were in a public sauna on the second floor at the time of the incident. About 20 fire engines as well as 50 firefighters were sent to the scene, Yonhap news agency reported.

The injured were not in a life-threatening condition, officials said.

The fire was extinguished at about 5.40 p.m. and firefighters started a search operation inside the building.

According to officials, there could be more bodied inside the building housing a fitness centre, public sauna and restaurant.

--IANS

soni/bg