(LEAD) Seoul buildings-fire

▲ Smoke plumes from the site of a fire at a building in southern Seoul on Oct. 20, 2026, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details)

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- One person went into cardiac arrest and 18 others were injured Tuesday after separate fires broke out at two buildings in southern Seoul, fire authorities said.

One of the fires began on the third floor of a building in Seoul's southern ward of Gangnam at 11:54 a.m., forcing some 60 people to evacuate, according to the authorities.

The blaze left one person in cardiac arrest and 10 others injured.

The second fire broke out on the fourth floor of a building located about 200 meters away at 12:01 p.m., leaving eight people injured.

Authorities dispatched 115 firefighters to put out the fires after receiving a report that someone had started a fire.

A fire official said in a briefing that the two fires so far appeared to be unrelated but that police will determine if they are, following their investigations.

The police said they plan to investigate the exact causes, including the possibility of arson, once the fires are fully extinguished.

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