SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a hospital fire, which occurred at a southeastern city South Korea, surged to 31, multiple local media reported Friday citing the country's firefighting authorities.

The blaze took place at about 7:30 a.m. local time Friday (2230 GMT Thursday) at the Sejong Hospital in Milyang city, South Gyeongsang province. It started from an emergency room on the hospital's first floor.

At least 31 people were confirmed dead, with tens of others injured. The death toll may rise as the rescue operation was still underway.

About 100 patients were originally in the hospital, some 390 km southeast of the capital Seoul. All of the 93 patients at a nursing home, adjoined to the hospital, evacuated safely.