Fire in Ulsan Apartment... 18-Year-Old Brother Who Entered to Save 9-Year-Old Sibling Also Victimized

On the morning of the 8th, a fire broke out in an apartment in Dong-gu, Ulsan, resulting in the deaths of two brothers. (Photo by Ulsan Fire Department)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] A fire broke out on the 13th floor of an apartment in Jeonha-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan City at around 4:05 a.m. on the 8th.

As a result of the fire, a 9-year-old younger brother inside the apartment died, and his 18-year-old older brother fell from the apartment and also died.

Before the fire, the older brother had left the house with a friend to go to a convenience store, and when he returned, he found the fire and entered the house to try to save his younger brother, according to the police.

The brothers' parents, who run a restaurant, were reportedly not at home at the time as they were preparing for business.

The police estimate that the three people, including the brothers and a friend, cooked ramen because they were hungry in the early morning, lit a candle to get rid of the smell, and the fire broke out while the older brother and his friend went to the convenience store to buy drinks.

The fire was extinguished by the dispatched fire brigade in about 30 minutes. Eight apartment residents were injured by smoke inhalation and transported to the hospital, and about 100 people were evacuated.

The police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.