South Korean man tending relatives' grave probed for starting deadly wildfire

The fire spread rapidly, killing 30 people and causing widespread damage.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersMan tending grave probed for starting South Korea fires1 day agoShareSaveVicky WongBBC NewsShareSaveEPAThe wildfire destroyed national treasures like Goun Temple, a Unesco World Heritage SiteA 56-year-old man is being investigated in South Korea on suspicion of starting a deadly wildfire that killed 30 people.

The man, who has not been named, was performing an ancestral rite by a family grave on a hill in Uiseong county, North Gyeongsang province, at the time.

He has been booked - but not arrested - and will be called in for questioning once the investigation of the site has been completed. He denies the charges.

On Sunday, officials said the main fire had finally been brought under complete control - 10 days after it started, causing widespread damage to buildings, including historic temples.

Investigators reportedly spoke to the suspect's daughter, who is said to have told them that the fire began as her father tried to burn tree branches hanging over the graves with a cigarette lighter.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3e35y3qqo

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