A construction site fire in the central South Korean town of Sejong has left three dead and 37 injured according to several news sources.
The fire began at 1:16 p.m. local time after an explosion was heard at an underground parking lot beneath the site. Officials said the underground lot had been painted and coated with epoxy earlier in the day and that there was a large amount of flammable material on site. Authorities have said they believe “oil mist” left in the air led to the explosion.
Because the building is under construction, it has no working sprinkler system. This has made it difficult for firefighters combating the blaze. Sources estimate there were as many as 169 workers at the site at the time of the explosion and subsequent fire.
