Chinese burnt in fire in stable condition

THE Chinese embassy confirmed today that the injured Chinese in a South Korea fire on Monday is in stable condition. She is still being treated in a hospital, Xinhua news agency reported today.

The 45-year-old Chinese woman, whose identity is still unclear, was diagnosed with the highest degree of burns.

A Chinese embassy official visited her yesterday.

The embassy has confirmed the identities of two of the 12 Chinese people who died in the fire, the Xinhua report said. A previous report from a Chinese newspaper said nine have been identified and listed the names.

The nine victims are Zhao Dongming, Yan Junying, Sun Donghe, Piao Zhen'ai, Piao Yonghao, Piao Yingshi, Jin Jun, Jin Longhai and Piao Longzhi, New Express quoted the embassy in the previous report, adding that seven of the nine Chinese victims were from one family.

The relatives went to South Korea in pursuit of their "Korean dream" and chose to work at the warehouse in Icheon together so that they could take care of each other, the Express news said.

The 12 dead and one seriously injured Chinese were all ethnically Korean and from northeastern China. They were temporary workers at the burned warehouse, according to a previous Xinhua report.

The fire began around 10:50am on Monday. It was extinguished after more than five hours.

Fifty seven workers were working in the basement of the warehouse under construction when a bottle of flammable liquid stored in the room was ignited, causing three explosions and the ensuing fire.