Bonghwa 'Boknal Pesticide Poisoning Incident' 80s Victim Eventually Passes Away

Victims Collapsed on Fourth Day After Incident
3 Discharged, 1 in ICU, 1 Deceased
Investigation Focused on Discharged Victims

One of the five victims who collapsed due to the 'Boknal pesticide poisoning incident' in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk, has ultimately passed away.

Earlier, on the 15th, the first day of the hottest period of summer, 41 members of the Naeseong 4-ri Senior Citizens' Center in Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, had lunch in the village, eating duck meat and other dishes, before moving to the senior center. Five women in their 60s to 80s who drank coffee at the center between the 15th and 16th began to experience pain and were transported to the hospital. Subsequently, an octogenarian patient who had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit passed away on the 30th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Yonhap News reported on the 30th that Mr. A (85), one of the two patients receiving treatment at Andong Hospital at around 7:30 a.m., died. He is the first fatality from the Bonghwa 'Boknal pesticide poisoning incident.' Mr. A was transferred to Andong Hospital on the fourth day after the incident, the 18th, and had been receiving treatment. According to police investigations, Mr. A ate duck meat at a different table from the other four victims on the day of the incident. However, like the other victims, pesticide components were detected in him. Mr. B (69), who was admitted in cardiac arrest on the first day, remains unconscious and is being treated in the intensive care unit at Andong Hospital.

Among the five victims, three had been discharged by the previous day. The police conducted a face-to-face investigation for about an hour on the 28th with one of the discharged victims. Additional questioning was also held around 2 p.m. on the 29th. During this process, the police reportedly obtained a statement that "four people shared coffee poured by the chairman."

A police official stated, "We have begun partial investigations of the discharged victims," and added, "We are adjusting the pace of the investigation by taking breaks considering the victims' health recovery." The official also said, "We have requested analysis of the clues collected so far and are awaiting the results while verifying some parts," and cautiously noted, "Although investigation results are emerging, we cannot disclose specifics." However, the police have not yet identified a suspect and said they will announce the investigation results soon.

Earlier, on the first day of the Boknal period, the 15th, 41 members of the Naeseong 4-ri senior citizens' center in Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, had lunch with duck meat and other dishes in the village before moving to the senior center. Five women in their 60s to 80s who drank coffee at the senior center between the 15th and 16th complained of pain and were transported to the hospital. Analysis by the National Forensic Service detected organophosphates such as etofenprox and terbufos, which are pesticide components. Etofenprox is a commonly used household insecticide for repelling mosquitoes and flies with low toxicity. However, terbufos is a highly toxic pesticide.

The police consider 'coffee' a crucial clue in this case. Pesticide components were also detected in a specific container inside the senior center, and the police are focusing on tracing how the pesticide entered that container. The police are investigating from multiple angles, believing that this incident likely arose from conflicts among residents, similar to the past 'Sangju pesticide cider incident.'

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