Our top story this morning…
Korea woke up to news of yet another horrible tradegy this Wednesday morning.
At least 21 people have been killed in a fire at a nursing home in southern Korea.
The blaze broke out shortly after midnight on Wednesday at the Jang-seong Hospital in Jeollanam-do Province.
Laah Hyun-kyung reports.
Most of the victims were in their 70s… as the hospital specializes in taking care of senior citizens with chronic health conditions.
Seven people are still receiving medical treatment… but the number of dead is likely to rise… as six are said to be in serious condition.
Firefighters say the blaze was brought under control within half-an-hour… but many died or were affected from inhaling smoke and toxic gases.
The hospital is suspected of having only one nurse on the night shift for the ward… taking care of some 80 elderly stroke and dementia patients… who would have needed physical assistance to escape.
Because the lack of medical staff on duty likely contributed to the high death toll,… authorities are looking to see if the hospital broke the law by not having enough staff on stand-by.
As for the cause of the fire,… the hospital’s administrator says… it originated from a room that was being used to store basic medical apparatus.
Hospital officials say there were no flammable materials in that room… suggesting an electrical short could have sparked the fire… but investigators are not ruling out arson.
Laah Hyun-kyung, Arirang News.
