Fire breaks out near bus terminal of S.Korea, 6 dead

Fire broke out near a bus terminal in Goyang, a city just north of South Korea's capital city of Seoul, leaving at least six people dead and 24 injured, YTN and Yonhap News Agency reported Monday.

The South Korean fire department said that six people have been confirmed dead as of 11 a.m., with 24 others injured.

Among the wounded, many sustained serious injury, boosting fears over a rising death toll. Those injured suffered from a poisonous gas inhalation.

Firefighters were quoted as saying the fire started in the underground shopping center near the Goyang Express Bus Terminal from 9:05 a.m. and the fire was put out at 9:29 a.m.

The fire was believed to have been caused while welding works were being made at a snack bar in the shopping center, but the exact cause was still under investigation.

The dead were mostly found at the toilet near the underground construction site. Firefighters are searching for possible bodies near the scene.

Just above the shopping center, there is a building of discount outlet Homeplus, which accommodates a movie-theater. When the fire broke out, the discount chain was not opened.

A subway station of the Line No.3 is 200 meters away from the scene. Subways resumed normal operation from 10:24 a.m. after passing by the station without stoppage.