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SEOUL, South Korea — Wind-driven wildfires, among the worst in South Korea’s history, are devastating the country’s southern regions, resulting in 24 deaths, the destruction of over 200 structures, and the evacuation of 27,000 people, officials reported on Wednesday.

The death toll includes a pilot who perished after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain wildfires in the hard-hit southeastern town of Uiseong. The National Fire Agency stated that at least 26 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Ancient Buddhist temples, homes, factories, and vehicles are among the structures destroyed in wildfires that have burned 43,330 acres, according to the government’s emergency response center.

In a televised address, South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo stated that the wildfires, which began on Friday, are causing more damage than many previous fires.

“Damages are escalating,” Han said. “There is a concern that we might experience unprecedented wildfire damage, so we must concentrate all our capabilities to extinguish the wildfires in the coming days.”

Han noted that crews are struggling to control the wildfires due to strong winds sweeping the areas overnight. He mentioned that approximately 4,650 firefighters, soldiers, and other personnel are working to extinguish the fires, aided by about 130 helicopters. He added that a light rainfall of 5-10 millimeters is forecasted for Thursday.

Observers say the ongoing wildfires rank third in South Korea in terms of land burned.

Officials in several southeastern cities and towns ordered residents to evacuate Tuesday as firefighters battled multiple blazes fueled by dry winds. The largest fires were in Andong, neighboring Uiseong and Sancheong counties, and Ulsan city, reported South Korea’s Interior Ministry.

Earlier on Tuesday, officials claimed that firefighters had controlled the majority of flames from the largest wildfires, but flames reignited due to wind and dry conditions. However, efforts to fight the fires were temporarily paused overnight as winds intensified.

The fire in Uiseong destroyed nearly half of more than 30 structures at Gounsa temple, which is believed to have been originally built in the 7th century. Among the destroyed structures are a pavilion-shaped structure built on a stream in 1668 and a Joseon Dynasty structure from 1904, two state-designated “treasures.”

Another state-designated “treasure,” a stone Buddha statue reportedly created in the 8th century, was moved to safety, said government and Buddhist officials.

The Justice Ministry reported the protective relocation of 500 inmates from a detention center in Cheongsong, another southern town, with no damages reported to the facility.

The Korea Forest Service raised its wildfire warning to the highest “serious” level nationwide on Tuesday, requiring local governments to dedicate more workers to emergency response, enforce stricter forest and park access restrictions, and advise military units to suspend live-fire exercises.