22 die, 24 injured in South Korean building fire

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A fire broke out Thursday at an eight-story building in the central South Korean city of Jecheon, killing 22 people and injuring 24 others, officials said.

A Jecheon fire department official said the toll could rise as rescuers continue to search the building after putting out the fire. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.

He said many of the people who died had been using a public bath on the second and third floors, which made it harder for them to escape.

Local media showed firefighters battling the blaze with trucks and helicopters, and a man jumping from a window as firefighters held a mattress below.