3 weeks ago
33
March 26, 2025 | 02:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 18 people have died as multiple wildfires rage across South Korea's southeastern region, with thousands of firefighters aided by the military deployed in a bid to contain one of the country's worst forest fires in decades.
The deadly wildfires have spread rapidly and forced more than 27,000 residents to flee their homes, the government said. The blazes, fuelled by strong winds and dry weather, have razed entire neighbourhoods, closed schools and forced authorities to transfer hundreds of inmates from prisons.
"We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good," Acting President Han Duck-soo said, adding that the U.S. military in Korea was also assisting.
As of Wednesday at 5 a.m. (2100 GMT), 14 people had died in a wildfire starting from Uiseong county, while four other deaths were linked to another fire from Sancheong county, according to the Safety Ministry.
Many of those who had perished were aged in their 60s and 70s, said Son Chang-ho, a local police official.
The Uiseong fire, only 68% contained and exacerbated by gusty winds, shows "unimaginable" scale and speed, said Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science.
Dry conditions were expected to persist in the wildfire-hit region on Wednesday, the Safety Ministry said.
Climate change is projected to make wildfires more frequent globally, Lee said, citing the unusual timing of wildfires that ravaged part of Los Angeles in January and a recent wildfire in northeast Japan.
"We have to admit large-scale wildfires are going to increase and for that we need more resources and trained manpower," he told Reuters.
South Korea relies on helicopters to help extinguish wildfires due to its mountainous terrain, but Lee said there was a need to bring in other fire-fighting aircraft and drones that can operate at night.
Eight Russian helicopters out of the Korea Forest Service's fleet of 48 used in fire-fighting had been taken out of operation since last year due to an inability to import parts from Russia because of sanctions related to the Ukraine war, Yoon Joon-byeong, a Democratic Party lawmaker said in October, using data from the forest service.
Kim Jong-gun, a spokesperson for the Korea Forest Service, said the agency planned to secure more wildfire-fighting helicopters, responding to criticism about a lack of equipment and helicopters on the ground.
He said that 4,919 firefighting personnel were being deployed on Wednesday, including hundreds of police officers and military units, while 87 helicopters were being used.
The blazes that broke out on Saturday in Uiseong are yet to be contained, gutting ancient temples and destroying homes.
The Uiseong fires were also threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy - in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said, as authorities sprayed fire retardants to try to protect them.
The flames had already burnt down Goun Temple, an ancient temple built in 681, Yonhap reported.
The government has designated the affected areas as special disaster zones, and said the fires had damaged more than 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres).
REUTERS | Minwoo Park and Ju-min Park
Editor's Choice: Motorcyclist Found Dead in South Korea after Plunging into 20-meter Sinkhole
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Motorcyclist Found Dead in South Korea after Plunging into 20-meter Sinkhole
5 jam lalu
A motorcyclist who had plunged into a 20-metre (65.62 ft) deep sinkhole in South Korea's capital Seoul was found dead on Tuesday.
Jeju Island Gov't Hopes for Tourism Boost as 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' Gains Traction
22 jam lalu
Amid the rising popularity of the drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, the Jeju Island government has launched a spring travel campaign
South Korea Marriage Rates 2024: Growing Trend of International Couples
22 jam lalu
The Korean Statistics Office's data shows that marriage rates in South Korea increased by 14.8 percent in 2024 to 222,400.
Indonesia, South Korea Reinforce Collaboration on KF-21 Fighter Jet Project
2 hari lalu
Officials from South Korea and Indonesia have renewed their cooperation agreement for the KF-21 fighter jet project with Indonesia's contribution reduced to 600 billion won
South Korean Court Overturns PM Han Duck-soo's Impeachment, Reinstates Acting President
2 hari lalu
South Korea's Constitutional Court overturned Han Duck-soo's impeachment and reinstated him as acting president.
5 South Korean Actors Who Have Been Involved in Sexual Harassment Scandals
2 hari lalu
Behind the success and popularity of South Korea's film industry, there are several actors who have stumbled upon scandals, including cases of sexual harassment.
Forest Fire in South Korea Declared National Disaster, Claims 4 Lives
3 hari lalu
South Korea declared a national disaster status for a major forest fire that has claimed the lives of four people
South Korea Court Blocks K-Pop Group NewJeans from Leaving Agency
4 hari lalu
The five members of NewJeans announced their departure from ADOR last November, revealing a new name NJZ.
Yoon Suk Yeol's Supporters Allegedly Throw Eggs at South Korean Lawmaker
5 hari lalu
A South Korean lawmaker was pelted with eggs in the face outside the court, allegedly by supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Gold Medalist Confirms Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron's Past Romance, Denies Debt Dispute
11 hari lalu
Gold Medalist denies the involvement of Kim Soo Hyun in Kim Sae Ron's debt and asserts that the 700 million won claim is purely the agency's affair.
