Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Fire in redevelopment zone kills Filipina, grandchildren
Fire spreads in a redevelopment zone in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Sunday. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
A Filipina grandmother and her two grandchildren were killed in a fire in a redevelopment zone in Wonju, Gangwon Province, police said Sunday.
Her daughter barely escaped the fire but is hospitalized after suffering multiple burns and exposure to smoke.
The daughter is married to a Korean man who works in China and has been away from home.
The fire started at 3:05 a.m., Sunday, in a nearby house and spread to the area where 20 homes that were soon to be destroyed were concentrated.
Thirty-five firefighters in 12 firetrucks arrived at the scene on time. But they had trouble putting out the fire because it spread fast due to the strong wind.
The woman in her 70s was asleep in the same room with her grandson and granddaughter, aged nine and eight, respectively, and their 35-year-old daughter when their house caught fire.
The daughter escaped through a window with help from neighbors, according to the police.
The other three, however, could not make it. They were found dead about two hours later when the fire was extinguished and firefighting personnel entered the house.
The surviving daughter had invited her mother to live with her in Korea last year.
She was laid off from her job at a nearby plastic manufacturing plant amid the COVID-19 crisis.
She and her family had been relying solely on her husband for a living.
The police are investing the exact cause of death.