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A resident in her 50s who suffered full-body burns in the apartment management office arson incident in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, yesterday (July 23) ultimately passed away this morning. Police have upgraded the charges against the suspect in his 70s to arson resulting in death and conducted a search and seizure of his home and vehicle.

Reporter Park Dong-joo from TBC.

[Reporter]

Police investigators enter the apartment complex carrying empty boxes.

They were executing a search and seizure warrant targeting the home and vehicle of Mr. A, a man in his 70s who is the suspect in the Gyeongsan apartment management office arson case.

During the search, which lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes, police secured a box full of evidentiary materials.

[(Do you view this as a premeditated crime? What is inside? ) ......]

According to police investigations, Mr. A, who has been at odds with resident representatives for years over apartment budget issues and other matters, raised his voice against residents gathered at the management office on the day of the incident as well.

Having worked as the chairperson of the emergency preparedness committee last March, he already knew that 20 liters of thinner were stored in the basement of the management office.

This is in front of the apartment management office.

A day has passed since the fire broke out, but access remains restricted, and black ashes and debris are still left untouched.

[Resident: We feel anxious, what kind of act is this? Exactly, with this weather being so hot, how are those injured people going to receive treatment...]

A total of eight people were injured in the apartment management office arson incident, including the suspect Mr. A. Among them, the woman in her 50s who suffered full-body burns ultimately passed away this morning (July 24).

Three others receiving hospital treatment are also reportedly in critical condition.

Police plan to modify the charges against Mr. A to arson of an inhabited building resulting in death and injury, and execute an arrest warrant as soon as his condition improves.

(Video by: Park Jong-young)

Park Dong-joo, TBC