At least 19 people have died in one of South Korea’s worst wildfire outbreaks, with multiple blazes causing “unprecedented damage,” acting President Han Duck-soo announced on Wednesday.
The fires, which erupted over the weekend, have scorched vast areas in the country’s southeast, forcing approximately 27,000 residents to flee. The devastation includes the destruction of an ancient Buddhist temple and the isolation of entire communities as roads were cut off and communication lines were severed.
According to the Interior Ministry, the wildfires have consumed 17,398 hectares (42,991 acres), with Uiseong County alone accounting for 87% of the total burned area. Eighteen victims perished in the fires, while a firefighting pilot lost his life when his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region.
Authorities have elevated the crisis alert to its highest level and have taken the unusual step of relocating thousands of prison inmates from affected areas. The government has described the fires as the “most devastating” in South Korea’s history, with strong winds and dry conditions worsening the disaster.
Firefighting efforts have been hampered by changing wind patterns, which forced the suspension of aerial operations. Thousands of firefighters are on the ground battling the flames as emergency crews struggle to contain the blazes.
In Andong, evacuees described the chaos of escaping the fires. “The wind was so strong, and the fire came from the mountain and fell on my house,” said Kwon So-han, a 79-year-old resident. “I could only bring my body.”
A UNESCO-listed heritage site, the Hahoe Folk Village, is under threat, with emergency alerts in place. Meanwhile, experts have warned that climate change could be exacerbating the frequency and intensity of wildfires, with South Korea experiencing record-high temperatures and prolonged dry conditions in recent years.
Authorities believe a fire in Uiseong may have been sparked by a person tending to a family grave. As investigations continue, South Korea remains on high alert, bracing for further challenges in its fight against the raging wildfires.
