星期四韩国南部城市堤川的一栋内设健身房的大楼起火,造成约20人死亡。

韩国国家消防机构说,大部分遇难者死于一个桑拿间内,因为此前一部车辆着火后,迅速蔓延整栋八层大楼,使许多人困在里面。

该消防机构发言人说:“大火快速产生的有毒烟雾,使许多人无法疏散”。

堤川是一个湖光山色的风景城市,位于首都首尔东南约118公里。

About 20 people died Thursday when a fire broke out in a building that houses a fitness center in the South Korean city of Jecheon.

The National Fire Agency said most of the victims were killed in a sauna after the fire started in a vehicle and swept throughout the eight story building, trapping many people inside.

“The fire produced so much toxic smoke so quickly, leaving many people unable to evacuate,” an agency spokesman said.

Jecheon is a scenic city with mountain and lakes that is located about 118 kilometers southeast of the capital of Seoul.