950821

38 women killed

in dormitory

fire in S Korea

SEOUL: At least 38 women were killed on Monday when fire broke out in a dormitory of a South Korean rehabilitation centre which had been locked up to prevent inmates from running away, police said.

Police said they suspected arson in the pre-dawn blaze at the Kyonggi Women's Technical Vocational School which also seriously injured 20 other young women.

"It looks like some inmates set fire to the dormitory to run way," a police officer told reporters.

There wre signs fires were set among piles of bed sheets and quilts at several places at the facility for rehabilitating prostitutes and female petty criminals, he said.

The death toll was high because all windows at the dormitory had steel bars and exits were locked to prevent inmates from fleeing, the officer said. Many of the victims were in their teens.

"The fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m (1700 GMT Sunday) and was brought under control in an hour or so," he said.

Hospital officials said the death toll could rise because many of the injured were in a critical condition.-Reuter