Elementary School Siblings Die in Late-Night Apartment Fire

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A fire broke out at a villa in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, last night (July 8), claiming the lives of two elementary school-aged siblings. The children were home alone when the incident occurred.

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 through the narrow alleyway.

Firefighters entered the building with hoses, spraying water while searching the premises.

The fire started around 11:00 p.m. last night at a three-story villa in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul.

The fire, which began on the third floor, spread in an instant, and windows shattered by the heat can be seen lying on the ground.

[Resident: It turned bright red, and black smoke started rising. I thought a gas tank had exploded. At first, I heard a loud bang.]

The siblings, a second-grade brother and a first-grade sister, who were inside the home at the time, died in the fire.

[Resident: They would always greet me when they got out of the car with their father. They were such cheerful children.]

It was determined that their father, their guardian, was out at the time. Tragic accidents involving casualties continue to occur when children are left home alone during fires.

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 yesterday 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 also received hospital treatment after inhaling smoke from the fire.

Police and fire authorities believe the fire started in the living room due to electrical causes and are investigating the exact cause based on the results of a joint inspection conducted today (July 9).

Reported by Yang Ji-hoon | Video by Kim Ho-jin | Graphics by Lee Jong-jung | Footage courtesy of Seoul Eunpyeong Fire Station
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.