Hotel fire leaves at least seven dead, guests ‘jumping from eighth floor’ and bodies strewn on stairwells as fire ravages resort in South Korea

A fire has ripped through a hotel in South Korea, leaving at least seven people dead and a dozen injured as guests desperately tried to escape the inferno.

Some of the dead had jumped from the eighth floor onto inflatable mattresses below, local media reported.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which authorities said started on the eighth floor of the nine-story hotel in the city of Bucheon shortly after 7:30 p.m.

Firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading throughout the building, however, thick black smoke was reported to have filled several floors, causing several casualties.

Emergency crews said they found some victims scattered in hallways and stairwells, likely trapped by smoke as they tried to flee. Foreign nationals are believed to be among the dead.

Kim In-jae, director of the Bucheon public health department, said at a briefing that three of the injured victims were in serious condition.

Lee Sang-don, an official at the Bucheon Fire Station, said the nine-story hotel was housing 23 guests when the fire broke out. Most of the victims were reportedly on the ninth floor.

He added that the fire was almost out but the number of injured or dead could rise as emergency workers searched the building.

More than 150 firefighters and 46 vehicles were deployed to put out the blaze, and the cause is under investigation.

A fire official warned that the death toll could rise as the rescue mission continues.

So far, twelve people have been reported injured, of which at least three have serious injuries.

The victims were taken to Soonchunhyang University Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon Gil Hospital, Daniel Hospital and Ewha Mokdong Hospital.