SEOUL. At least 16 people have lost their lives as devastating wildfires continue to spread across South Korea’s southeastern region, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing extensive damage to homes and historical sites.
The fires ignited on Saturday in Uiseong have yet to be fully contained. The Uiseong blaze alone is only 68% under control, with strong winds exacerbating its rapid spread. “Unimaginable” in scale and intensity, the fire is proving particularly difficult to suppress, according to Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has pledged a full-scale response, deploying firefighting helicopters and ground personnel to combat the flames. However, with persistent dry conditions expected on Wednesday, authorities remain on high alert. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has warned that the lack of moisture could further fuel the fires, making containment efforts even more challenging.
Among the victims were four people attempting to flee the inferno. Their vehicle overturned during the escape, leading to three fatalities and one injury, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. The fires have also ravaged centuries-old temples and burned through residential neighborhoods, displacing thousands of residents.
The South Korean government has declared the affected areas as special disaster zones. Officials estimate that the wildfires have already consumed more than 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres) of land.
Lee warned that climate change is likely to make such wildfires more frequent. “We have to admit large-scale wildfires are going to increase and prepare more resources and manpower,” he told a local television station. He also pointed to recent major wildfires in Los Angeles and northeast Japan as indicators of an escalating global trend.
As authorities continue their firefighting efforts, thousands remain displaced, waiting for relief and hoping for an end to the devastation.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
