Overview
- Police in Wando booked a Chinese worker on Monday on suspicion he started the warehouse fire by using a torch on epoxy flooring during floor work.
- Investigators say he worked alone despite a safety rule that requires two people for hot work with heating tools near flammable materials.
- The blaze at a seafood cold-storage warehouse on Saturday killed Lt. Park Seung-won, 44, and firefighter Noh Tae-young, 30, after they reentered to put out lingering flames.
- The operations chief ordered a retreat when black smoke surged, and oil or epoxy vapor along with sandwich-panel walls helped the fire spread too fast for the pair to escape.
- Public mourning intensified as leaders offered condolences, with a joint funeral set for Tuesday and posthumous honors conferred, while unions pressed for more frontline staffing.