SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Two men were confirmed dead in a fire that broke out at a Gosiwon in South Korea, the country's unique one-room accommodations, in the capital Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported on Monday citing firefighting authorities.
The blaze started from one of 33 rooms at the Gosiwon in Seoul at about 6:33 a.m. local time Monday (2133 GMT Sunday), and it was completely extinguished about three hours later.
Two men in their 60s and 70s were found severely injured with burns in the corridor and the lounge of the low-cost accommodation facility. They were sent to a nearby hospital but were confirmed dead.
Gosiwon is South Korea's unique tiny one-room accommodations that usually accommodate low-income one-person households or students preparing for important tests, such as bar exams.
Sixteen other residents in the building escaped by themselves without any injury.
Sprinklers worked properly, but the fire protection system was not enough to put out the fire.
The firefighting authorities were investigating whether the blaze broke out by accident or arson. ■