South Korean authorities are dealing with some of the most severe wildfires ever recorded in the country, as stated by the acting president on Wednesday. The wildfires have resulted in at least 18 fatalities and injured a minimum of 19 individuals, including six serious injuries, according to the Interior Ministry. Strong winds and dry conditions have exacerbated the blaze, which started on Friday and has damaged or destroyed over 200 buildings, including two ancient Buddhist temples. More than 27,000 people have had to evacuate, including 500 inmates from a prison. On Wednesday morning, there were eight fires still burning, up from six on Monday.

Acting President Han Duck-soo, who was recently reinstated after being impeached in December, commented that the fires are “breaking the record for the worst wildfires ever.” Efforts to combat the fires have been hindered by gusts of wind reaching up to 56 miles per hour on Tuesday afternoon, making it challenging to mobilize helicopters and drones. Local officials have closed roads, suspended train services, and experienced power outages in response to the fires. The largest blaze in Euiseong County, situated west of the Andong Hahoe folk village—a UNESCO World Heritage site—has seen firefighters contain nearly 70% of the area affected. The first blaze is believed to have been caused by a farmer’s lawn mower, while fires in nearby areas were sparked by incidents at a graveyard and a garbage incinerator, fueled by dry weather conditions.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/world/asia/south-korea-wildfires.html