ANN/THE KOREA HERALD – Wildfires that broke out over the weekend across southern South Korea have left 10 casualties and forced over 1,500 residents to evacuate, according to disaster authorities.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported that the blaze, which began in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, claimed four lives and injured six others, all from the Sancheong area.
Meanwhile, a major fire in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, continued into its second day, with containment efforts hindered by strong winds, dry conditions, and thick smoke.
As of 11am yesterday, only 30 per cent of the fire had been contained, affecting around 3,510 hectares.
Fire officials said just 20.4 kilometres of the total 68-kilometre fire line had been extinguished. “Winds have calmed slightly compared to yesterday, so we’re accelerating the firefighting effort with helicopters focusing on areas with less smoke,” a North Gyeongsang official said at a press briefing.
The wildfires have caused significant property damage. In Sancheong, 10 homes were destroyed, while in Uiseong, 24 homes were completely burned, and five others sustained partial damage.
Forest damage across affected regions, including Sancheong, Uiseong, Ulsan’s Ulju District, and Gimhae, is estimated at over 3,280 hectares – equivalent to 4,600 soccer fields.
Yesterday, fire spread again in Ulju, forcing the evacuation of more than 790 residents from five neighbourhoods.
With additional evacuations, a total of 867 people have been displaced.
By 4pm yesterday, the wildfire had raged for over 27 hours.
Authorities issued a level 3 wildfire alert, deploying 12 helicopters and over 2,330 personnel to contain the flames.
In total, more than 2,300 people have been evacuated: 951 from Uiseong, 335 from Sancheong, 867 from Ulju, and 148 from Gimhae. Residents from 32 villages in Uiseong were relocated to 15 evacuation centers, and patients from two nursing hospitals and one care facility were also moved.
