Authorities begin on-site probe into fire at hotel construction site in Busan

BUSAN, Feb. 16 (Yonhap) — Authorities on Sunday began a joint on-site investigation into a fire at a hotel construction site in the southeastern port city of Busan that killed six workers and injured 27 others.

The fire at the Banyan Tree hotel under construction started Friday morning, presumably from insulating material loaded near a swimming pool on the first floor of one of the three buildings on the site, according to authorities.

Officials said the joint probe is expected to focus on figuring out the reason that the six victims on the first floor died.

The officials were also expected to seek to confirm the possibility the blaze may have been caused after inflammable materials caught fire during welding work.

Construction for the luxury resort hotel began in April 2022, and its opening was scheduled for the first half of this year.