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2mo ago

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.

Buildings, including Gounru Pavilion at Gounsa Temple in Danchon-myeon, Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang province, stand in ruins after being destroyed by a wildfire in South Korea on March 28, 2025.
Buildings, including Gounru Pavilion at Gounsa Temple in Danchon-myeon, Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, stand in ruins after being completely destroyed by a wildfire in South Korea on March 28, 2025.
A man stands as a wildfire devastates the area in Andong, South Korea, March 26, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
More than a dozen fires have been fanned by high winds and dry conditions, killing 30 people, the worst of its kind recorded in South Korea

Overview

  • 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.