Arson in a fit of rage at a gambling den... Fire at Daegu store on Gaecheonjeol, 2 dead

[Image source = Yonhap News TV capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Around 3:48 AM on the 3rd, a fire presumed to be arson caused by oil (gasoline and kerosene) broke out on the second floor of a commercial building in Seongdang-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu.

At the fire scene, two people in their 50s and 60s were found dead, and one person was seriously injured and transported to the hospital, where their life is reported to be in critical condition. Another victim, a man in his mid-50s identified as Mr. A, sustained minor injuries.

The fire department deployed 29 pieces of equipment and 76 personnel, extinguishing the fire around 4:07 AM, 20 minutes after dispatch. The estimated property damage amounted to approximately 13.88 million KRW.

The police secured statements indicating that a gambling game had taken place in the commercial building just before the fire, and that someone had set the fire, prompting an investigation.

At the time of the fire, several 10,000 KRW bills that were not burned were scattered on the floor, and Mr. A reportedly stated during police questioning that "the two deceased had a major fight while playing Hwatu."

A police official stated, "We believe this was an intentional fire caused by types of oil," adding, "We are searching for suspects through autopsy, on-site investigation, and witness testimonies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.