Ten people, including eight Japanese tourists, were killed

10 people killed, six injured in fire at indoor shooting range
(ATTN: UPDATES with latest casualties; ADDS police explanation and other details in
last 3 paras)

BUSAN, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- Ten people, including eight Japanese tourists, were
killed and six others injured on Saturday in a fire that swept through an indoor
shooting range in this southern port city, police said.

The blaze erupted at about 2:26 p.m. and was extinguished about 40 minutes later,
police said, adding that most of the dead were believed to have died from severe
burns and toxic smoke inhalations.
Police counted eight bodies believed to be those of Japanese. Those killed
include two South Koreans, they said.
The Japanese victims were visiting the shooting range as part of the tour
program. Of them, nine was from the same tourist group which arrived in Busan
earlier in the day for a two-day sightseeing schedule, tourist officials and
police said.
The victims were apparently trapped inside the shooting range on the second floor
of the five-story building when the fire raged out of control, police said.
"A black column of smoke soared into the sky right after a sudden bang near the
shooting range," Keum Seong-hwan, a 51-year-old eyewitness said. "A group of
Japanese tourists ran out of the building with fire on their bodies.
Police said the death toll may rise, because some of those injured were in
critical condition.
"Those injured are now receiving medical treatment, but they got severely
burnt... the death toll may rise," one police officer said.
The exact cause of the fire was being investigated but police said the blaze
appears to have started in a second-floor lounge adjacent to the shooting range.
Busan is South Korea's largest port city and one of the most popular destinations
for Japanese tourists due in part to its proximity to Japan.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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