Two elementary school siblings die in Seoul villa fire while guardian was away

Two elementary school students died after a fire broke out at a three-story villa housing 42 households in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul.

According to fire and police authorities, the blaze started around 11 p.m. Wednesday in the third-floor unit of a villa in Galhyeon-dong, Eunpyeong-gu.

Neighbors reported hearing an explosion before the fire. Firefighters mobilized 82 personnel and 23 vehicles, fully extinguishing the blaze around 11:50 p.m. — about 50 minutes after it started.

Nine residents evacuated on their own. Two siblings — both elementary school students — who were inside the third-floor unit were taken to a hospital, where they died.

The Eunpyeong fire department and police planned to conduct a joint on-site investigation Thursday afternoon to determine the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.

Authorities suspect an electrical fault and plan to focus their investigation on the point of origin.

At the scene, investigators raised the possibility that the fire started where an air conditioner or electric fan had been, though the exact cause is to be confirmed through the investigation results.

The children's guardian was out at the time of the fire.

A police official said no signs of criminal activity or unusual circumstances had been found so far. Police and fire authorities said they would investigate the full circumstances of the fire based on the joint investigation findings.