Korea Battles Multiple Wildfires in Southeastern Region

Photo: WAM

The Republic of Korea is struggling to control several wildfires that are spreading across its southeastern region. The fires, made worse by strong and dry winds, have been difficult to contain, officials said on Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the first fire broke out on Friday in Sancheong County, which is about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The flames quickly spread to nearby areas. Fires also started in Euiseong, located around 180 kilometers southeast of the capital, and in Ulju County in Ulsan, about 300 kilometers away.

So far, the fire in Sancheong has claimed four lives, and six others have been injured. More than 1,500 people have been forced to leave their homes and are now staying in temporary shelters, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

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In Euiseong, the wildfire has destroyed around 4,650 hectares of land. To put that into perspective, this is roughly the size of 6,512 football fields. The massive fire has also displaced over 390 people.

On Sunday, acting President Choi Sang-mok directed officials to consider declaring Euiseong and Ulju as special disaster zones. Sancheong had already been given this status. By designating these areas as disaster zones, the government can provide more support and resources to help the victims and speed up recovery efforts.

Firefighters and emergency workers are continuing to battle the flames, but the dry and windy weather is making their task much harder. Authorities are urging people in the affected regions to stay alert and follow evacuation orders for their safety.