International
Air Mattress Fails, Two Die While Jumping to Escape Fire
A fire in the South Korean city of Bucheon claimed the lives of seven people and left a dozen others injured.
The blaze erupted in a nine-story hotel, with the eighth floor believed to be the origin due to an electrical fault.
Tragically, two victims died after jumping from windows in a desperate attempt to escape. They landed on an air mattress provided by the fire department, but it flipped over upon impact, failing to break their fall.
Other victims were found inside rooms on the eighth floor, where the fire had started. While the flames did not spread throughout the entire building, extensive damage occurred as the rooms lacked sprinkler systems.
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The hotel was constructed in 2003, before such safety measures were legally required, according to Bucheon’s fire department.
The fire was reported at 7:39 PM local time (11:39 GMT) and was finally extinguished by 10:26 PM on Thursday.
Authorities are now investigating potential negligence on the part of the hotel management and the effectiveness of the fire department’s air mattress.
Reports indicate that a female victim caught the edge of the mattress, causing it to flip just as a second male victim jumped. The injured are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with some suffering from severe smoke inhalation.
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