A tragic incident occurred early in the morning on the 13th when a fire broke out in a fifth-floor apartment in Haeundae, Busan, leading to the loss of two elderly siblings who were in their 70s. The Busan Fire Department received alerts at 3:43 AM and reported that firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within approximately 40 minutes. Despite efforts to revive the siblings after they were found in a state of cardiac arrest, they were pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital.

In addition to the two victims, four other residents experienced smoke inhalation and were also sent to the hospital for treatment. Initially, around 100 residents were evacuated from the building as a precaution during the emergency response. The fire department, along with law enforcement, is set to conduct a joint investigation to determine the specific cause of the fire later in the day.

This apartment complex, built in 1985, is noted to be 41 years old and reportedly lacks a sprinkler system, raising concerns about safety regulations in aging buildings. The unfortunate event underscores the critical need for updated fire safety measures in older residential structures, especially those housing vulnerable populations such as the elderly.