Authorities have been facing significant challenges in controlling the wildfires in South Korea, which have claimed the lives of 26 individuals and caused extensive damage to hundreds of buildings, including ancient Buddhist temples. The fires, considered the worst in the country’s history, have also resulted in the tragic loss of a pilot whose helicopter crashed in Uiseong while attempting to combat the flames. Despite deploying thousands of emergency responders and multiple helicopters, the intense winds have complicated efforts to contain the fires. Additionally, the limited rainfall expected in the region is not anticipated to be sufficient to quell the infernos. So far, the wildfires have affected approximately 88,980 acres of land in the southeastern region, injured 30 people (with eight in serious condition), and prompted the evacuation of 37,180 individuals. Damage to historical structures has also occurred, including a temple built in the 7th century, where 20 out of the 30 buildings at the Gounsa temple complex have been destroyed, including two state-designated national treasures. Due to the severity of the situation, acting President Han Duck-soo has warned of unprecedented potential fire damage and called for all available resources to be devoted to firefighting efforts this week. Human error is suspected to be responsible for several of the wildfires, including incidents where individuals started fires during grass-clearing activities or welding operations.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/03/27/south-korea-wildfires-become-worst-on-record-as-death-toll-reaches-26