SEOUL, South Korea — A fire at a hotel in South Korea has killed seven people and injured 12 others, fire authorities said Friday. The fire began on the eighth floor of the nine-story hotel in Bucheon, just west of the capital, Seoul, around 7:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m. Seven people died, mostly guests, and 12 were sent to hospitals for treatment, including three in critical condition, said Lee Sang-don, an official at the Bucheon fire station. Among those killed were a couple who jumped out the windows onto an air mattress installed in front of the building, Lee said. Some 70 vehicles and 160 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, Yonhap news agency said, citing provincial fire authorities.

---

Persons: Lee Sang, Lee, ” Organizations: Authorities Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Bucheon, Seoul