South Korea's Largest Wildfire Contained as Investigation Focuses on Suspected Human Cause

Authorities are probing a 56-year-old man accused of accidentally sparking the fire during an ancestral rite, as recovery efforts and damage assessments continue.

• The wildfire, South Korea's largest in history, has burned over 48,000 hectares, killed 30 people, and displaced tens of thousands.
• Police are investigating a man suspected of starting the fire in Uiseong County on March 22 while burning tree branches at a family grave, with questioning expected soon.
• The fires destroyed over 6,000 structures, including ancient temples, with two national treasures among the damaged cultural heritage sites.
• The disaster has highlighted vulnerabilities in South Korea's rural, aging population and underscored gaps in disaster preparedness and response systems.
• Efforts to fully extinguish lingering hotspots are ongoing, while separate wildfires in other regions have further strained firefighting resources.

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