South Korea faces worst-ever wildfire, death toll rises to 26
SEOUL: A wind-driven wildfire in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, has killed at least 26 people and injured 30 others, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Officials reported that approximately 36,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed — nearly 13,000 hectares more than the record-setting wildfire on the east coast in 2000, which was previously regarded as the worst in the country’s history, with 23,794 hectares burned.
A total of 37,000 people have been evacuated, including 29,911 from the Uiseong and Andong areas in North Gyeongsang.
Earlier, Acting President Han Duck-soo instructed Acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong to be on the ground in the affected province to oversee relief efforts until the fires are fully under control.
“It is very concerning that many of the victims are elderly, including patients in care hospitals,” Han said.
“Please prioritize the health and safety of the victims, and activate an efficient support system so that firefighters and volunteers do not become exhausted,” he added.
Authorities in North Gyeongsang continue their efforts to control the wildfires. Forestry officials began deploying helicopters, fire trucks, and personnel at 6:30 a.m. to extinguish the fire that started in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Saturday. The blaze spread rapidly due to strong winds.
Weather officials forecast about 5mm of rain in the region, which may assist firefighting efforts.
The fires in the province are believed to have claimed 21 lives, including four in Andong — home to the Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and eight in Yeongdeok County.
The fire near Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Andong, reportedly showed signs of calming down overnight.
A forestry official said helicopters were ready to be deployed to the area, but weather conditions might hinder operations in the morning.
— BERNAMA
