Christmas tragedy: Father dies after 4th-floor jump to escape Seoul flat fire with child

A father in his 30s died after carrying his young child and leaping from a high-rise building in Seoul to escape a blaze that broke out on Christmas morning.

He was one of two people who died in the fire, which occurred at about 4.55am local time (3.55am Singapore time) on the third floor of the 23-storey apartment building, according to Korean news outlets.

The man, 33, whose surname is Park, and his wife, 34, had jumped from the fourth floor – where they live – while carrying their children, aged seven months and two years, local broadcaster SBS reported.

Mr Park suffered a cardiac arrest after the fall and was taken to the hospital, where he died.

His wife survived despite being seriously injured, including in the shoulder, and is being treated at the hospital, according to local news reports.

The children were taken to the hospital for hypothermia and smoke inhalation, but their condition is said to be stable.

Mr Park was the first person to report the fire, SBS reported.

The second fatality was a 38-year-old man, a resident of the 10th floor who was identified by the surname Lim. The authorities believe he died from inhaling too much smoke while fleeing the fire.

He was found on the stairs of the 11th floor, according to The Korea Herald.

About 30 people were injured, including a woman in her 70s who also had a cardiac arrest but regained consciousness, according to Yonhap News Agency.

More than 200 firefighters battled the fire, which took about three hours to extinguish.

Witnesses and firefighters told SBS that the blaze began when most residents were asleep, and quickly spread upwards, with soot extending up to the 17th floor.

Amid the falling snow, some residents were barefoot or wearing only pyjamas due to the frantic evacuation, according to SBS.

A man and woman in their 70s, who lived in the third-floor apartment where the fire started, were believed to have jumped out to save their lives and were taken to hospital, national broadcaster Korean Broadcasting System reported.

Altogether, about 200 residents were ordered to evacuate, and a total of 17 homes in the building have reported damage from the fire so far, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The fire and police departments plan to jointly investigate the site on Dec 26 to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Current assessment suggests there was no foul play, including arson, according to The Korea Herald.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol sent his condolences on Dec 25 over the tragedy.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Mr Yoon said: “I pray for the repose of those who have passed away and extend my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families.”