Police open investigation into deadly wind turbine fire

▲ The top of a turbine at a wind power complex in the southeastern county of Yeongdeok is seen blackened by a fire on March 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

wind turbine fire-police

Police open investigation into deadly wind turbine fire

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Police on Tuesday opened an investigation into a wind turbine fire that broke out in the eastern coastal county of Yeongdeok the previous day, leaving three maintenance workers dead.

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency plans to summon officials of the wind turbine operator for questioning about the cause of the deadly blaze that engulfed the turbine inside a wind power complex in Yeongdeok, about 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Monday afternoon.

The officials were already asked Monday to appear before police as witnesses but did not comply, citing personal reasons.

The deceased workers belonging to a company that maintains and repairs wind turbines were conducting maintenance work at the request of the turbine complex operator at the time of the fire.

The police investigation is expected to focus on verifying specific circumstances regarding the work process, safety management practices and compliance with safety regulations.

The police will also seek an autopsy on the victims to find out the causal relationship between the fire and their deaths.

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