A woman in her 50s who suffered burns across her body in an arson-related explosion at an apartment management office has died while receiving treatment.
The woman was pronounced dead at a hospital at about 11:10 a.m. Friday, a day after the incident, according to the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency.
She had initially been treated at a burn center in Daegu before being transferred to Seoul as her condition worsened.
Police upgraded the 71-year-old suspect’s alleged offense from arson causing injury to arson causing death and injury. An autopsy is planned to determine the precise cause of the woman’s death and its connection to the fire.
The fire broke out at the apartment management office in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, injuring eight people, including the suspect.
According to the victim’s family, the woman had gone to the management office to ask why surveillance cameras around the apartment complex had stopped operating.
Her husband said he heard an explosion shortly afterward and found her collapsed with severe burns.
Police are investigating why the surveillance system was not working at the time and whether it had been deliberately disabled as part of a planned attack.
The suspect remains hospitalized with burns across his body and has not yet been questioned because he is unable to communicate normally.
Investigators are also focusing on a long-running dispute between the suspect and the apartment management office as a possible motive.
Three emergency calls had been made over disturbances involving him during the past year, including one the day before the fire, while two complaints had been filed against him on allegations including business obstruction.
Police and forensic officials recovered a liquid believed to be flammable from the badly damaged office. Outside surveillance footage, vehicle dashboard camera recordings and witness accounts are being reviewed to reconstruct the incident.
Police said no note or other material directly explaining the suspect’s motive has been found. They plan to execute an arrest warrant once his medical condition allows him to be questioned.
hnpark@heraldcorp.com
