SEOUL -- Six people were killed and 11 others injured as a fire broke out at a South Korean hotel, multiple local media said Thursday citing the fire authorities and the police.

The fire broke out at a nine-story hotel in Bucheon, some 20 km southwest of the capital Seoul, at about 7:39 pm local time (1039 GMT).

Six guests were killed, and three were seriously wounded. Eight others suffered minor injuries. The number of casualties may increase as recuse operations were underway.

The fire, which started from a room on the eighth floor, did not spread throughout the hotel, but the entire building was filled with black smoke, causing casualties.

Up to 46 fire vehicles and about 150 firefighters were sent to the scene for rescue operations.