SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean authorities are poised to interrogate a 56-year-old man suspected of igniting one of the wildfires that have recently ravaged the southern parts of the country. The devastating fires resulted in the loss of 30 lives and scorched over 119,000 acres.
The police department in North Gyeongsang province reported that this individual allegedly started a fire while tending to overgrown grass at a family grave situated on a hill in Uiseong. Uiseong stands out as one of the areas severely affected by the blazes.
Investigators visited the grave site on Monday morning, preparing to question the suspected individual shortly. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether additional people will be investigated in connection with the wildfires. Fire officials suspect that multiple human activities, including burning waste and welding sparks, could have contributed to the disaster.
Dry, windy conditions exacerbated the wildfires, which persisted for a week. These fires obliterated thousands of homes and left vast patches of mountains cloaked in ash. The arrival of rain eventually assisted firefighters in containing the situation by Friday.
Of the 30 fatalities, most were in their senior years, with particular tragic incidents including the crash of a helicopter involved in firefighting operations and four firefighters along with other personnel overwhelmed by the swift-moving flames. Furthermore, the disaster left at least 45 people injured, with nine sustaining serious injuries.
The fires led to substantial damage, leveled more than 6,000 structures, including more than 1,000 homes in the southeastern city of Andong, the coastal town of Yeongdeok, and over 330 homes in Uiseong.
In Uiseong, the flames impacted the Gounsa temple complex, damaging approximately 20 out of 30 structures. The temple, established in the 7th century, includes significant historical entities such as a 1668 pavilion that overlooks a stream and a structure from the Joseon dynasty, erected in 1904, commemorating a king’s longevity.