[Anchor]
An elementary school-aged brother and sister have died in a fire at a villa in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The incident occurred in the middle of the night while their guardian was away.
Reporter Kim Gyu-ri has the story.
[Reporter]
The interior of the home is seen glowing bright red through the windows.
Fire trucks arrived one after another in the narrow alleyway, and firefighters entered the building with hoses to spray water and search the premises.
The fire broke out at around 11:00 p.m. on July 8 at a three-story villa in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul.
The fire, which started on the third floor, spread rapidly, leaving windows shattered by the intense heat.
[Resident: It turned bright red and black smoke started rising. I thought a gas tank had exploded at first because I heard a loud bang.]
A second-grade boy and his first-grade sister, who were inside the home at the time, were killed in the fire.
[Resident: They would say hello when they got out of the car with their father. They were such cheerful children.]
It was determined that their father, who is their guardian, was out at the time. Tragic incidents involving casualties continue to occur when children are left home alone during a fire.
In July of last year, two sisters aged 8 and 6 died in an apartment in Gijang-gun, Busan, and in June of the same year, two sisters aged 10 and 7 lost their lives in an apartment in Busanjin-gu, Busan.
The grandfather of the siblings who died on July 8 told SBS reporters, "It is even more devastating because it was their birthday month," adding, "I hope people will share in our grief."
Two neighbors were also treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation due to the fire.
Police and fire authorities believe the fire started in the living room due to an electrical issue and are investigating the exact cause based on the results of a joint forensic examination.
(Video reporting: Yang Ji-hoon | Video editing: Kim Ho-jin | Design: Lee Jong-jung | Footage courtesy of: Seoul Eunpyeong Fire Station)
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