Severe Wildfires Ravage Southeast South Korea
Unprecedented Wildfire Spread
Won Myung-soo, the Director of Satellite Imagery Analysis at the National Forestry Service, reported that a fire in Uiseong, South Korea, rapidly expanded on Wednesday. Within merely 12 hours, it spread to the coastal county of Yeongdeok, located 51 km (32 miles) away, leading to the destruction of more than 300 structures.
Among the nearly 30 fires that have erupted since last Friday, five major ones continued to burn into early Thursday, including the largest three fires in Uiseong. Over the past week, wildfires have engulfed multiple cities and towns across the Gyeongsang provinces, such as Sancheong and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province; Uiseong, Andong, Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province; and the city of Ulsan.
Efforts to Contain the Fires
According to the government, firefighters have managed to contain 44% of these fires. However, strong winds have hindered the deployment of helicopters and drones. The nation’s weather agency predicts slight rain later in the week, but officials are skeptical about its efficacy in extinguishing the flames, as precipitation is expected to be less than five millimeters across most impacted areas.
The wildfires are currently being referred to as the worst ever recorded, surpassing those of March 2000, which affected 59,000 acres. Local reports indicate that at least 27 people have lost their lives due to these fires so far. The disaster response center announced on Thursday morning that over 88,488 acres have been scorched, a figure that has doubled since the previous day.
Impact on Heritage and Infrastructure
The flames and smoke have already damaged 317 buildings throughout the region, including two historic Buddhist temples that are over 1,000 years old. Acting President Han Duck-soo addressed the nation in a press conference, as reported by KBS, saying, “We are mobilizing all personnel and equipment available to confront these unprecedented wildfires, but the situation remains dire. We must break the chain of wildfire spread this week by deploying all available resources.”
He further warned of the potential shortage of firefighting personnel if additional wildfires break out and emphasized the importance of prevention. The government plans to evaluate and enhance current wildfire response and prevention strategies. President Han also committed to providing administrative and financial support to those affected by the wildfires.
Community and International Support
The Korea Forest Service has mobilized over 8,500 people nationwide in firefighting efforts, with additional helicopter support provided by the US military. The government reported that over 27,000 residents have been evacuated, including those from the 600-year-old Andong Hahoe folk village, a UNESCO World Heritage site located more than 130 miles southeast of Seoul.
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