A FIRE broke out at a resort construction site in the South Korean city of Busan today, killing at least six people.

About 100 workers managed to evacuate the site, while another 14 were rescued by helicopter from the top of the structure, said Busan Gijang District Fire Department head Hong Moon Shik.

Hundreds of firefighters were deployed to the site and had largely extinguished the blaze by the afternoon, hours after it was reported at around 10.20am.

Mr Hong said six people had been found unconscious on the first floor of the structure, near where the fire was believed to have started. All six were later pronounced dead in hospital. At least other 25 people sustained minor injuries.

He said the cause of the fire wasn’t immediately clear.

Television footage showed grey-black smoke and flames rising from the site and a helicopter approaching the building as part of rescue efforts.

Shortly after the blaze was reported, acting South Korean President Choi Sang Mok instructed officials to deploy “all available personnel and equipment” to put it out.