At least nine people, including two Japanese tourists, were believed to have been killed in a blaze at an indoor shooting range in South Korea's southern city of Busan on Saturday, police said.
"Three people including two Japanese tourists were confirmed dead. Six or seven others were also feared dead in the blaze," a police official told AFP.
Five other people were also seriously injured in the fire, which gutted the facility on the second floor of a five-storey building.
"The number of deaths is feared to increase as some of the injured are in serious condition," he said.
The blaze was brought under control after about 40 minutes, police said.
One police officer said as many as seven Japanese were believed to be among those killed or injured.
Witness Geum Seong-Hwan, 51, said he heard a blast from the shooting range.
"I heard an explosion and a large plume of black smoke billowed up. Then I saw some people with their clothes on fire came out," he told Yonhap news agency.
An investigation to determine the cause of the fire was under way.
{{/usCountry}}An investigation to determine the cause of the fire was under way.
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