South Korean village mourns leader and family killed trying to help others amid wildfires
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Family members mourning the late village leader Kwon and his wife on March 28 in Yeongyang, South Korea.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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YEONGYANG – As the flames of a raging wildfire swept towards the town of Samui-ri in South Korea’s mountainous south-east this week, a village leader surnamed Kwon rushed home to try to help his family and neighbours.
Instead, his body and those of his wife and another family member were found hours later on March 25, near the burnt-out hulk of their car on the road to the village, which escaped intact amid South Korea’s worst wildfires that killed at least 28.
“The fire was so thick, he couldn’t see his way... He is the head of the village, he felt he should come back,” said his next-door neighbour, 71-year-old Moon Han-sick.
Mr Moon wore a black suit and tie in mourning on March 28 as residents gathered at a temporary memorial of white flowers in Mr Kwon’s front yard ahead of a funeral for the victims.
“He did all the hard work in the village... Elderly people have a hard time farming, they’re not good with machinery, he would just go and do it for them,” Mr Moon told Reuters.
Mr Kwon would often bring him gifts such as the peppers and cabbage he grew, Mr Moon added.
Mr Kwon, 65, was one of the six killed in Yeongyang, a county with a population of about 15,000 spread over 816 sq km of mountain terrain swathed in pine forests, dotted in places with towering white wind turbines to generate power.
The flames travelled so fast
Rain and at one point snow fell in Yeongyang, signalling the end of the disaster on March 28, as the authorities declared the fires in North Gyeongsang province were contained, after having raged for almost a week.
“The victims were completely isolated,” said Mr Oh Do-chang, the county governor, who declared five days of mourning.
“Some died while having dinner because their homes caught fire so suddenly, while others died on the way to warn others of the fire.”
Mr Kwon leaves behind bereaved loved ones, an empty house, and the new apple trees he planted in his field.
“He was always devoted and generous,” said a teary-eyed member of his family, Mr Woo Seung-ho, 55. “I hope you are comfortable in heaven, let’s meet again.” REUTERS
