Deadly wildfires in South Korea claim 24 lives, over 23,000 evacuated
The majority of those who died were between 60 to 80 years old.
KATHMANDU: A devastating wildfire that spread across various locations in the southeastern region of South Korea has claimed at least 24 lives.
The majority of those who died were between 60 to 80 years old.
According to South Korean officials, at least 26 people have been injured in the fire, with 12 of them in critical condition.
The blaze has forced at least 23,000 people to evacuate their homes, as reported by the BBC.
Acting President Han Duck-Soo stated that the country is facing an unprecedented crisis. “This is the worst wildfire in the history of our nation, and the situation remains dire,” Han said in a television address. He noted that the damage caused by this fire is more severe than any of the previous wildfires.
“The destruction is increasing,” Han continued, “The fire has caused unprecedented damage, and so for the rest of this week, we must all focus on putting out the fire.” He also mentioned that strong winds overnight have made firefighting efforts more challenging.
To combat the fire, South Korea has deployed 130 helicopters, thousands of firefighters, and around 5,000 soldiers, including U.S. forces stationed in the country.
Acting President Han expressed hope that rainfall, expected on Thursday, might make firefighting efforts somewhat easier, with forecasts predicting 5 to 10 millimeters of rain.
Once the crisis is under control, Han said the government would conduct a thorough review of all weaknesses and improve its prevention strategies for the future. “Once a wildfire starts, it requires significant resources to extinguish, and it puts precious lives at risk,” he added.
The fire has also destroyed the 1,300-year-old Gounsang Temple in Uiseong, although most of the culturally significant artifacts in the temple complex were moved to a safe location.
According to South Korean media, the fire, which started in Sancheong County on Friday afternoon, spread to Uiseong County.
Due to strong, dry winds, the blaze continued to spread to neighboring counties including Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
