Firefighters are facing a significant challenge in containing the rapidly expanding wildfires, exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions. South Korean authorities have classified these ongoing wildfires as the most severe to have ever affected the nation, with a rising death toll and a doubling of the affected area.
The wildfires started late on Friday in Sancheong county, located in Northern Gyeongsang province, and have since taken the lives of at least 26 individuals, as stated by local authorities on Thursday. The scale of the devastation has increased, with approximately 81,500 acres (33,000 hectares) of land now burned. This far surpasses South Korea’s previous record for the worst wildfire, which occurred in March 2000 and burned 59,000 acres (24,000 hectares) of land.
Acting President Han Duck-soo emphasized the critical situation nationwide, attributing the rapid spread of the fires to their unprecedented nature. South Korea has deployed over 120 helicopters to combat the fires across multiple regions, including Gyeongbuk, Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeonggang, and Sancheong. These fires have affected mountainous terrain in the country’s southeast, fueled by strong and dry winds.
Meteorological forecasts suggest impending rain, but the expected rainfall amounts are minimal, unlikely to significantly aid in extinguishing the fires. The Korea Forest Service Minister, Lim Sang-seop, stated that the rainfall is not anticipated to provide substantial assistance in battling the fiery infernos.
Government officials suspect human error as the cause of the wildfires, pointing to potential man-made triggers such as the use of fire to clear overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding equipment. Additionally, many affected areas have experienced below-average rainfall this season.
Four firefighters and government workers lost their lives in Sancheong county on Saturday when they became trapped by rapidly moving flames. Another fatality occurred when a helicopter pilot crashed during fire containment efforts in a mountainous area of Uiseong. Nearly 30,000 residents have been displaced due to the spread of the fires and the struggle to contain them.
The historical Gounsa Buddhist temple in Uiseong county has also been significantly damaged, with flames engulfing half of its 30 structures, including two state-designated “treasures.” Authorities have issued an emergency alert for the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site Hahoe Folk Village in Andong county, as the fire draws closer to this culturally significant site.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/27/south-korea-says-wildfires-worst-in-its-history-death-toll-rises-to-26?traffic_source=rss
