Mon Mar 31 07:30:27 UTC 2025: ## South Korean Police Investigate Man in Connection with Devastating Wildfires
**Seoul, South Korea –** A 56-year-old man is set to be questioned by South Korean police in connection with the wildfires that ravaged the country’s southern regions, leaving 30 dead and over 119,000 acres of land scorched. The North Gyeongsang provincial police department suspects the man may have inadvertently started at least one of the fires while clearing grass near a family grave in Uiseong, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Investigators examined the grave site on March 31st and will soon question the suspect. Authorities believe multiple incidents of human error, including burning trash and welding sparks, may have contributed to the week-long blaze, which was fueled by dry conditions and strong winds. The fires were largely contained by Friday, March 28th, thanks to rainfall and cooler weather.
The devastating fires claimed the lives of 30 people, mostly those aged 60 and above. This includes a pilot whose helicopter crashed during firefighting operations, and four firefighters and other workers who perished while battling the fast-moving flames. At least 45 others sustained injuries, nine of them serious.
The fires caused significant damage, destroying or damaging over 6,000 structures, including more than 1,000 homes each in Andong and Yeongdeok, and over 330 in Uiseong. The historic Gounsa temple complex in Uiseong also suffered damage, with approximately 20 of its 30 structures affected, including two state-designated treasures.
First Piper 