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Sky News
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
'Worst ever' wildfires rage in South Korea, killing at least 24 people
South Korea is facing "snowballing damage" from some of its worst ever wildfires that have killed at least 24 people and forced 27,000 to evacuate. The blazes have destroyed a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles, and burned more than 43,000 acres. Among the dead was the pilot of a helicopter fighting the wildfires who was killed in a crash, Yonhap news agency reported. In a televised address, South Korea 's acting president Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were causing worse damage than many other past wildfires. "Damages are snowballing," Mr Han said. "There are concerns that we'll have wildfire damages that we've never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week." He added: "We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good." Hopes pinned on rain as emergency services struggle As so often with wildfires, it is weather conditions that have brought us to this point and that are likely to dictate the coming days. More than two dozen fires have been blazing since the weekend, but it was high winds on Tuesday evening and overnight into Wednesday that transformed this from a local to a national emergency. In that time, the percentage of fires that were contained by the emergency services dropped significantly. Hopes are now pinned on rain that is forecast for Thursday. But with less than an inch expected, the situation could remain dire. The land in this rural part of Korea will still be exceedingly dry. March is the end of the dry season, and this year has seen much lower levels of precipitation than in previous years. There are mounting concerns about rural communities made up of largely elderly people and winds blowing the flames closer to more major urban hubs such as the city of Andong. The fear is that a spattering of rain will not be enough. Around 4,650 firefighters, soldiers and other personnel, along with approximately 130 helicopters, were struggling to extinguish the fires as strong winds swept through the affected areas overnight. The fire were threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy - in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said. The flames had already burnt down Goun Temple, an ancient temple built in 681, Yonhap news agency reported. About 20 of the temple's 30 buildings and structures were completely burned down, including the two revered structures, Gaunru, built in 1668 and Yeonsujeon, constructed in 1904. Doryun, a senior monk who lived at the temple for more than three years, said they had "been reduced to heaps of ashes," adding "I feel really empty. Life is transient." Officials in several southeastern cities and towns ordered residents to evacuate on Tuesday as firefighters struggled to contain multiple blazes fuelled by dry winds. Among those who have died were four firefighters and government workers who were killed on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds, according to officials. Government officials suspect human error was the cause of several of the fires, possibly due to the use of fire while clearing overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Wildfires in South Korea leave 26 dead and thousands displaced
Listen to article Wildfires in South Korea have intensified, doubling in size within a day, and are now being described as the country's worst natural disaster, with at least 26 fatalities reported and historic temples destroyed. The blazes, which originated in the central Uiseong county, have consumed over 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres), marking the largest single forest fire in South Korea's history. The previous record was set in March 2000, with 24,000 hectares affected. 'We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties due to the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,' Acting President Han Duck-soo stated during a government response meeting. In response to the crisis, the military has released stocks of aviation fuel to support firefighting helicopters, which are crucial in tackling the flames across the mountainous terrain of the southeast. More than 120 helicopters and approximately 9,000 personnel have been mobilised to combat the wildfires. The fires have rapidly spread eastward, approaching coastal areas, driven by strong winds and exacerbated by dry conditions. While the meteorological agency has forecast some rain for the southwest, it is expected to be minimal, with less than five millimetres likely to fall across most affected regions. 'The amount of rain is going to be small, so it doesn't look like it will significantly help in extinguishing the fire,' said Lim Sang-seop, the Minister of the Korea Forest Service. Experts have noted that the Uiseong fire exhibited an unusually rapid spread, attributing some of the increased fire risk to climate change, which is expected to make such incidents more frequent and severe. Higher temperatures, exacerbated by human activities, have turned dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel, according to Climate Central, an independent body of scientists. The fatalities include a pilot who died when his helicopter crashed during firefighting efforts and four firefighters who were trapped by fast-moving flames. While specific details about civilian casualties have not been disclosed, it is believed many of the deceased were in their 60s and 70s. Authorities suspect that human error contributed to several of the wildfires, including those ignited while clearing overgrown grass from family tombs. The blazes threaten two UNESCO World Heritage sites – Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy – as authorities have deployed fire retardants in an effort to protect these cultural landmarks. The hardest-hit areas include Andong, Uiseong, and Sancheong, with evacuations ordered in two villages, including Puncheon, close to the historic Hahoe folk village. Historic structures, including parts of the Gounsa temple complex, have also been destroyed. Of the 30 structures in the complex, around 20 have been burned, including two designated national treasures. The Korea Forest Service has raised its wildfire warning to the highest level, mandating local governments to enhance emergency response efforts and recommend that military units suspend live-fire exercises.
Express Tribune
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
South Korea battles worst wildfires in history, 18 dead and thousands displaced
Listen to article South Korea is battling one of the most destructive wildfire crises in its history, with at least 18 people dead and over 27,000 evacuated from southeastern cities and towns, including Andong, Uiseong, and Ulsan. The wildfires, which began on Friday, have swept through more than 17,400 hectares (43,000 acres) of land, fuelled by strong winds and abnormally dry conditions. Authorities fear the worst is yet to come as forecasts offer little chance of rain. Among the fatalities are four firefighters and civil servants who were caught in fast-moving flames over the weekend. At least 20 others have been injured, with many communities left in ruins. One of the most devastating losses was the destruction of the 1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple in Uiseong. Although some national treasures, including a stone Buddha statue, were rescued, much of the wooden structure was consumed by the fire. In a televised address, acting president Han Duck-soo called the wildfires 'unprecedented' and said the country was facing 'damages we have never experienced before.' 'All available resources, personnel and equipment are being deployed, but the situation is not good,' Han said. 'We were desperately hoping for rain to help extinguish the flames.' Over 9,000 emergency responders, including 5,000 soldiers and firefighters, have been mobilised, with support from 130 helicopters and hundreds of vehicles. The national fire agency raised the alert to its highest level for the first time this year. On Tuesday, a firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountains of Uiseong County. Authorities are investigating the cause. Several cultural heritage sites are under threat, including the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Confucian Academy. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and gymnasiums to house displaced residents. In Yeongdeok, the fires forced the evacuation of multiple villages and reportedly triggered the relocation of over 2,600 inmates from a nearby prison. Officials suspect human activity may have started the fires — possibly from welding sparks or grass burning near ancestral tombs. Experts have linked the scale and frequency of such wildfires to climate change. South Korea is experiencing a significantly drier than average season, with more than 240 wildfires recorded this year alone — 2.4 times higher than the same period in 2024. Forest specialist Lee Byung-doo said, 'We must accept that climate change is fuelling larger wildfires and increase resources and manpower accordingly.' Han Duck-soo promised a full review of the wildfire response once the crisis subsides and stressed the need for improved prevention measures, including stronger penalties for illegal burning. 'This level of damage is unlike anything we've seen. Once wildfires start, they require enormous effort and risk lives to control,' Han said.
The Independent
26-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
At least 18 dead as ‘unprecedented' wildfires ravage South Korea's southern regions
At least 18 people have died and 20 injured as South Korea battled some of the most destructive wildfires in its history. The flames, which began on Friday, tore through southeastern regions, amplified by dry weather and strong winds this week as Japan also struggled with new wildfires. Fires have burned through more than 17,400 hectares (43,000 acres), destroying hundreds of structures, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple. Over 27,000 people have been evacuated from cities and towns including Andong, Uiseong, Sancheong and Ulsan. Earlier, four people were confirmed dead, but authorities on Wednesday said the death toll now stands at 18. Among those killed were four firefighters and civil servants who died on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames. In a televised address, South Korea's acting president Han Duck Soo said the wildfires were causing worse damage than many other past wildfires. "Damages are snowballing," Mr Han said. "There are concerns that we'll have wildfire damages that we've never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week." He added: "We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good." Authorities have deployed nearly 9,000 personnel, including soldiers and firefighters, backed by more than 130 helicopters and hundreds of vehicles. But strong winds and dry conditions have repeatedly allowed the fires to spread after being partially contained. In Uiseong, officials said only 68 per cent of the blaze was under control as of Tuesday. The fire also spread to the nearby coastal town of Yeongdeok, where officials shut down roads and ordered residents of at least four villages to evacuate. The historic Gounsa temple, founded in 681 during the Silla Dynasty, was destroyed in Uiseong. Heritage officials said some of the site's national treasures, including a stone Buddha statue, were removed before the flames reached the main wooden buildings. In the coastal town of Yeongdeok, roads were closed and residents in at least four villages were ordered to evacuate. There were unconfirmed reports that 2,600 inmates were being relocated from a prison in nearby Cheongsong county due to the advancing fires. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and gyms, and UNESCO -listed sites such as Hahoe Folk Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in Andong were under threat on Wednesday, local officials said. The fires are suspected to have been triggered by human activity, possibly sparks from welding or people clearing dry grass near ancestral tombs, according to government officials. Forest expert Lee Byung-doo warned that large-scale wildfires are likely to increase as the climate changes. 'We have to admit that and prepare more resources and manpower,' he said. Wildfire seasons around the world have grown longer and more intense as climate breakdown makes dry and windy conditions more common. Scientific studies have found that climate crisis has already extended the global wildfire season by roughly two weeks on average.
Sky News
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
'Worst ever' wildfires rage in South Korea, killing at least 18 people
South Korea is facing "snowballing damage" from some of its worst ever wildfires that have killed at least 18 people and forced 27,000 to evacuate. The blazes have destroyed a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles, and burned more than 43,000 acres. In a televised address, South Korea 's acting president Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were causing worse damage than many other past wildfires. "Damages are snowballing," Mr Han said. "There are concerns that we'll have wildfire damages that we've never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week." He added: "We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good." Around 4,650 firefighters, soldiers and other personnel, along with approximately 130 helicopters, were struggling to extinguish the fires as strong winds swept through the affected areas overnight. The fire were threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy - in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said. The flames had already burnt down Goun Temple, an ancient temple built in 681, Yonhap news agency reported. Officials in several southeastern cities and towns ordered residents to evacuate on Tuesday as firefighters struggled to contain multiple blazes fuelled by dry winds. Among those who have died were four firefighters and government workers who were killed on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds, according to officials. Government officials suspect human error was the cause of several of the fires, possibly due to the use of fire while clearing overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work.
