A fire at a South Korean hotel that resulted in seven fatalities is under investigation by fire officials. The lack of sprinklers in the nine-story hotel in Bucheon, near Seoul, may have exacerbated the situation. The incident, which occurred on the evening of Thursday, left at least 12 individuals with fire-related injuries.

According to officials, the fire initiated in an unoccupied room on the 8th floor and did not extensively spread. However, the absence of sprinklers allowed toxic smoke to swiftly fill the upper levels of the hotel, where most victims were discovered. The hotel, constructed in 2003, was not required to have a sprinkler system, as regulations mandating sprinklers in buildings exceeding six stories were only implemented in South Korea in 2017. These regulations were not retroactively applied to most older buildings aside from certain medical facilities and nursing homes.

Upon arrival at the scene, Fire Station Official Lee Sang-don described encountering smoke-filled floors, with smoke even emanating from windows. The fire reportedly originated in Room 810, which was vacant after a guest voiced concerns about a burning smell and requested a room change to hotel management.

A government team comprising fire officials, forensic experts, and police commenced an on-site inspection to determine the cause of the fire. Chief Cho Seon-ho of the Gyeonggi provincial fire services indicated to Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min that the fire likely resulted from electrical issues during a briefing at the location.