The 2019 Goseong fire was a fire in Goseong County, South Korea on April 4–6, 2019 that spread to the cities of Sokcho, Inje, Donghae and Gangneung leading to two deaths, over 30 injuries and the evacuation of over 4,000 residents.[2]
| 2019 Goseong fire | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | April 4, 2019 – April 6, 2019 |
| Location | Goseong County, South Korea |
| Statistics[1] | |
| Burned area | 1,260 acres (5.1 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 30 |
| Structures destroyed | Over 2,000 |
| Damage | $4.6 million USD |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | High-voltage power line |
The cause of the fire was an extra high-voltage wire owned by KEPCO that fell due to high winds which led to an electric arc.[3] On April, 20, 2023 KEPCO was found to be liable for the fire and ordered to pay $6.6 million (USD) to evacuees. In January 2023, seven current and former KEPCO employees were acquitted of charges related to safety failures. [4]
The fire damaged over 200 homes and over 2,000 buildings causing estimated damages of $4.6 million (USD).[5] More than 13,000 firefighters were mobilized from other parts of the country to fight the fire.[6] The captain of the South Korea national football team, Heung-Min Son donated $124,600 (USD) to victims of the fire[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Goseong Fire 2019". The Korea Times. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ ""Massive wildfire wreaks havoc on Gangwon towns"". The Korea Times. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ ""Electric Arc Believed to Have Caused Goseong Mountain Fires"". KBS World Radio. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ ""Kepco ordered to pay 8.7 billion won for 2019 wildfire"". Korea JoongAng Daily. April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ ""KEPCO may face damage suit for forest fire in Gangwon Province"". The Korea Times. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ ""S. Korea struggles to battle worst wildfire on its soil in years"". The Korean Herald. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ Lee, Sungmo (15 April 2019). "Tottenham star Son Heung-min donates £100k to South Korean fire victims". Goal. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
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