Wind-driven wildfires have become one of the most destructive disasters in South Korea’s recent history. The damage has affected the southern regions. The fires, which have been raging since last Friday, have killed at least 19 people. This includes four firefighters and government workers trapped by fast-moving flames. The recent fires are the third largest in South Korea’s history in terms of area.
The fires started in Sancheong county on Friday afternoon and later spread to Uiseong county, authorities said. It continues to ignite for a fifth consecutive day on Wednesday (Mar 26). The severe wildfires have been ravaging South Korea’s southern regions. This has forced at least 27,000 people from their homes and displaced over thousands.
The blazes have also destroyed over 200 structures, including homes, factories, and a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple, Gounsa, in Uiseong. Here, many cultural relics were removed and transported to safer ground.
Evacuations and Widespread Destruction
The fires, fuelled by strong winds and dry weather have caused severe damages to the basic living in the country. As these wildfires spread, over 27,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. According to latest reports more than 5,500 residents were displaced from areas such as Andong, Uiseong, and Ulsan. According to reports, Wildfires are relatively uncommon in South Korea, however, fatalities are rare. But the current fires have killed over 19 people within the past five days.
Among the evacuees many have sought refuge in temporary shelters like schools and gyms. The fires have scorched more than 43,000 acres of land destroying the forest area. The Uiseong fire remained only 68% contained due to the worsening conditions. Meanwhile the Dry winds have allowed the fires to spread quickly. The firefighters and emergency personnel are struggling to control the situation due to rapid spread.
Efforts to Contain the Fires
In order to control the situation amid the growing crisis, South Korea deployed nearly 9,000 firefighters. The effort also includes over 130 helicopters and hundreds of vehicles. However, despite the management and plenty of efforts, strong dry winds hindered the firefighting teams.
Amid this a tragic helicopter crash was reported in Uiseong. The incident claimed the life of the pilot, further halting aerial operations. The officials stated that conditions would remain challenging as the dry winds continued to exacerbate the situation.
Ancient temple destroyed
The Gounsa Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century was destroyed in the fire. Thankfully, some of its national treasures, including a stone Buddha statue, were evacuated before the flames reached the temple.
President Han Reacts
South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo described the damage as “unprecedented,” highlighting the increasing scale of the disaster. He said the raging fires had exceeded all prediction models for such a disaster.
“Wildfires burning for a fifth consecutive day in Ulsan and the Gyeongsang region are causing unprecedented damage,” Han said. The fires are “developing in a way that is exceeding both existing prediction models and earlier expectations”, he said.
