South Korea is experiencing significant damage from severe wildfires that have already claimed at least 18 lives and prompted the evacuation of 27,000 people. These blazes have consumed a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple, homes, factories, vehicles, and scorched over 43,000 acres of land.
The fires began last Friday and are now causing more extensive damage than previous wildfires, according to South Korea’s acting president, Han Duck-soo.
“The fires are spreading rapidly, and we are concerned that we might witness the most devastating wildfire damage ever. We need to concentrate all our resources to battle the fires throughout the rest of this week,” president Han stated during a televised address.
Around 4,650 firefighters, soldiers, and other personnel, alongside approximately 130 helicopters, are fighting to control the fires, with strong winds exacerbating the situation. There are fears that several UNESCO World Heritage sites in Andong city, including Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy, could be threatened by the fires. The flames have already destroyed the ancient Goun Temple, built in 681, according to Yonhap news agency
Evacuations have been ordered in several southeastern cities and towns as firefighters work to contain the multiple wildfires exacerbated by dry winds. Among the fatalities are four firefighters and government workers who died on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames. Government officials believe human error, such as using fire to clear overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding, may have been the cause of several fires.