SEOUL, South Korea — A significant fire erupted in a commercial building located in Seongnam on Friday, prompting a major rescue and evacuation effort, according to fire authorities.

More than 260 firefighters, supported by 80 emergency vehicles, responded quickly to tackle the inferno, which was brought under control approximately 90 minutes after the blaze was first reported around 4:30 p.m., as stated by the Gyeonggi provincial fire department.

So far, emergency personnel have successfully rescued around 240 individuals, while an additional 70 people were able to evacuate the eight-story structure on their own. The incident resulted in about 28 individuals suffering minor injuries, including cases of smoke inhalation, although fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported. Fire officials indicated that they were continuing their search of the premises to ensure that no one remained trapped inside.

Preliminary reports suggest that the fire originated from a restaurant located on the first floor of the building, although the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.