South Korea mountain fires kill two, injure 17

SEOUL (AFP) - Two women were killed and 17 others injured on Sunday in mountain fires that destroyed dozens of houses in South Korea as thousands of firefighters struggled to stop the flames from spreading.

The fire started on Saturday evening in a remote part of the southeastern coastal city of Pohang and was put out by Sunday afternoon after killing a 79-year-old woman and injuring 14 people.

The blaze destroyed 58 houses and left about 120 people homeless, firefighters said.

Police said they were investigating a 12-year-old boy who allegedly set fire to a pile of dry leaves near his hill-side home with friends.