A 56-year-old unnamed man is under investigation in South Korea for allegedly starting a devastating wildfire that claimed 30 lives.
The suspect was reportedly performing an ancestral ceremony at a family grave on a hillside in Uiseong county, North Gyeongsang province, when the fire began. He has been booked but not yet arrested, and authorities plan to question him after completing their investigation of the site. The man has denied responsibility for the blaze.
Officials announced Sunday that the main fires had finally been brought under complete control, ten days after they initially ignited and caused extensive damage to buildings, including historic temples.
According to investigators who spoke with the suspect’s daughter, the fire allegedly started when her father attempted to burn tree branches hanging over the graves using a cigarette lighter.
The Korea Forest Service reports that the fires consumed more than 48,000 hectaresโapproximately 80% of Seoul’s total area. The blazes destroyed an estimated 4,000 structures, including homes, factories, and several national treasures.
Among the destroyed sites was Goun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 618 AD that ranked as one of the province’s largest temples.
The majority of casualties were elderly individuals in their 60s and 70s.
Although the main fire has been contained, authorities warn that smaller fires continue to reignite. Strong, dry winds helped spread the flames to multiple cities and counties. Unseasonably warm weather, dry conditions, and the region’s pine forests further fueled the wildfire’s intensity.
A comprehensive investigation involving police, fire authorities, and forest management officials is scheduled for next week.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has pledged government financial support for those displaced by the fires.
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