Latest news with #Gounsa
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Restoring cultural heritage destroyed by wildfires to cost 48.8b won
State, city and provincial government to support restoration of 36 government-designated treasures, cultural heritage sites The restoration of government-designated cultural heritage sites damaged by the wildfires that ravaged across southeastern South Korea in March is expected to cost about 48.8 billion won ($34.9 million), the Korea Heritage Service said Thursday. A joint investigation conducted by the agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety confirmed 36 instances of damage to cultural assets. Among these, 13 items and structures were state-designated national treasures, heritage sites or state-recognized cultural properties. The remaining cases involved heritage designated by municipal and provincial governments. This included near-complete destruction of the 7th-century Buddhist temple Gounsa in Uiseong-gun, the epicenter of the Uiseong-Andong fires. which was by far the biggest wildfire in South Korea's recorded history. Nine of the temple's 30 buildings were destroyed, along with national treasures Gaun-ru, a pavillion, and Yeonsu-jeon, a hall, while another treasure Stone Seated Buddha statue sustained damage. The fires also destroyed several centuries-old buildings, such as the Sanam House in Cheongsong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, thought to have been built in late 18th century. The state heritage agency said the restoration will be conducted in phases, beginning with urgent tasks such as securing structural components of the destroyed buildings, preserving partially damaged structures, and mapping out detailed restoration plans within this year. The prioritization of work will be based on the severity of the damage inflicted, and the extent to which the value of each item or structure has been compromised. The budgets of both the central and regional governments will be used for the restoration, along with state lottery funds and donations. This includes 1 billion won donated by K-pop agency Hybe to the KHS-affiliated agency last month. "Administrative and financial supports will be made so that the state heritage damaged by the fire can be restored to its original value," KHS chief Choi Eung-chon said. The string of wildfires tore across the Gyeongsang provinces in the span of two weeks since mid-March, burning over 100,000 hectares of land while killing 33 and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands living in the area. They inflicted more casualties and larger property damage than any other wildfire in the country's history.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man caring for ancestors' grave may have ignited huge South Korea wildfire, police say
A South Korean man tending a family grave is suspected of sparking one of the record wildfires that ravaged the southeastern part of the country last week, the National Police Agency said on Monday. The multiple fires, which left 30 people dead and thousands of structures – including a centuries-old Buddhist temple - destroyed, were described as unprecedented in South Korea. Police said the man, who is in his 50s, was booked in connection with the fires. In South Korea, a booking is not an arrest but rather indicates the man's information was collected for the investigation. He was looking after a family grave on a hill in Uiseong County, North Gyeonsang province, on March 22 when he was suspected of igniting a blaze amid windy conditions, police said. Tending to family or ancestral graves is common in South Korea, especially during the spring and autumn months, and similar traditions exist across East and Southeast Asia. The fires, which burned about 48,000 hectares in total, had been extinguished by Monday, the Korea Forest Service said in a statement. More than 3,100 people were evacuated to 114 shelters due to the fires, and five areas - Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok - have been declared special disaster zones, the service said. South Korea's military deployed approximately 7,500 ground troops and more than 420 helicopters, including four from US Forces Korea, to help in the wildfire fight, according to the Defense Ministry. More than 10,000 firefighters, police and civil servants were deployed to multiple areas in the south last week since dozens of blazes broke out. Among the casualties were civil servants dispatched to fight the wildfire. Many of the civilians killed were age 60 or older, including some who struggled to escape quickly or others who did not want to evacuate. A pilot was also killed when his helicopter crashed. The 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong County, a major Buddhist landmark, was among the dozens of buildings that have burned to the ground with its ceremonial bell the only piece appearing somewhat intact, according to photos from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Some of the artifacts that were in the historic site, including the seated stone Buddha designated a treasure by the state, were spared from the fire as they were relocated to other temples ahead of the approaching blazes, it added. Han Duck-soo, South Korea's prime minister and acting president, said the fires were the worst the country has seen in recent years and had caused 'unprecedented damage.' Wildfires are caused by a tangle of factors but as the climate crisis escalates, it's fueling the hot and dry weather that helps fires burn faster and more intensely. Unusually warm spring temperatures in South Korea dried out the landscape and, combined with strong winds, set the stage for fast moving fires to eat through the region's dense forest. This year alone, 244 wildfires have been reported in South Korea, 2.4 times higher than the same period last year, according to Han.
CNN
31-03-2025
- General
- CNN
Man caring for ancestors' grave may have ignited huge South Korea wildfire
A South Korean man tending a family grave is suspected of sparking one of the record wildfires that ravaged the southeastern part of the country last week, the National Police Agency said on Monday. The multiple fires, which left 30 people dead and thousands of structures – including a centuries-old Buddhist temple - destroyed, were described as unprecedented in South Korea. Police said the man, who is in his 50s, was booked in connection with the fires. In South Korea, a booking is not an arrest but rather indicates the man's information was collected for the investigation. He was looking after a family grave on a hill in Uiseong County, North Gyeonsang province, on March 22 when he was suspected of igniting a blaze amid windy conditions, police said. Tending to family or ancestral graves is common in South Korea, especially during the spring and autumn months, and similar traditions exist across East and Southeast Asia. The fires, which burned about 48,000 hectares in total, had been extinguished by Monday, the Korea Forest Service said in a statement. More than 3,100 people were evacuated to 114 shelters due to the fires, and five areas - Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok - have been declared special disaster zones, the service said. South Korea's military deployed approximately 7,500 ground troops and more than 420 helicopters, including four from US Forces Korea, to help in the wildfire fight, according to the Defense Ministry. More than 10,000 firefighters, police and civil servants were deployed to multiple areas in the south last week since dozens of blazes broke out. Among the casualties were civil servants dispatched to fight the wildfire. Many of the civilians killed were age 60 or older, including some who struggled to escape quickly or others who did not want to evacuate. A pilot was also killed when his helicopter crashed. The 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong County, a major Buddhist landmark, was among the dozens of buildings that have burned to the ground with its ceremonial bell the only piece appearing somewhat intact, according to photos from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Some of the artifacts that were in the historic site, including the seated stone Buddha designated a treasure by the state, were spared from the fire as they were relocated to other temples ahead of the approaching blazes, it added. Han Duck-soo, South Korea's prime minister and acting president, said the fires were the worst the country has seen in recent years and had caused 'unprecedented damage.' Wildfires are caused by a tangle of factors but as the climate crisis escalates, it's fueling the hot and dry weather that helps fires burn faster and more intensely. Unusually warm spring temperatures in South Korea dried out the landscape and, combined with strong winds, set the stage for fast moving fires to eat through the region's dense forest. This year alone, 244 wildfires have been reported in South Korea, 2.4 times higher than the same period last year, according to Han.
Sharjah 24
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Sharjah 24
South Korea's largest wildfires reignite
Helicopters deployed to fight reigniting fires Fires flared up again early Saturday in Andong, forcing authorities to send eight helicopters to combat the blazes. The main fire in the region had been extinguished a day earlier, but officials noted that remaining embers had reignited. More helicopters are expected to be deployed as the fires persist. Extensive damage and destruction The wildfires have destroyed over 2,900 homes, burned more than 35,000 hectares of forest, and damaged several historic sites, including the ancient Gounsa temple complex. With the fires continuing, South Korea is facing its largest wildfire disaster to date. Continued firefighting efforts Authorities have warned that extinguishing the fires may take time due to the vast area affected. Most victims of the fires are elderly, with a helicopter pilot in his 70s among those killed while attempting to contain the flames. Cause and impact of the wildfires The wildfires were accidentally started by a grave visitor and sparks from a brush cutter. The fires have been exacerbated by South Korea's hottest year on record in 2024, with dry conditions and below-average rainfall further fueling the disaster.
Daily Tribune
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Daily Tribune
South Korea firefighters deploy helicopters as wildfires reignite
South Korean firefighters deployed helicopters on Saturday as the country's largest wildfires on record, which had ravaged vast areas in the southeast, reignited in a city in the region, according to officials. More than a dozen fires, fueled by high winds and dry conditions, have killed 30 people and injured many others in southeastern regions, an official from the interior ministry reported on Saturday. The fires flared up again early Saturday in Andong, a city in the hardest-hit North Gyeongsang province. In response, authorities deployed eight helicopters to the area, a spokesperson from the Korea Forest Service told AFP. This occurred a day after the primary fire in the province, where 26 of the 30 victims had died, was extinguished. 'It seems that the remaining embers have flared up a bit,' said the official. 'We plan to deploy more helicopters to the area in Andong.' The fires began on Saturday last week and have continued for days. As of the latest reports, over 2,900 homes in the region have been destroyed. An official reported that more than 35,000 hectares (86,500 acres) of forest have burned, and several historic sites, including the 7th-century Gounsa temple complex in Uiseong, have been destroyed. The scale of the destruction has made this the largest wildfire in South Korea's history. Later on Saturday, a North Gyeongsang provincial official stated that helicopters were still being used in Andong to put out smaller flames and smoke. 'Given the size of the area, it may take some time to complete all operations and fully extinguish the fires,' said Do Gyu-myeong of the North Gyeongsang provincial government. Most of the victims were elderly, according to the Korea Forest Service. Among the fatalities was a 70-year-old pilot whose helicopter crashed on Wednesday while attempting to control the flames. The fires have been exacerbated by high winds and extremely dry conditions, with the region experiencing below-average rainfall after South Korea's hottest year on record in 2024. The interior ministry indicated that the wildfires were accidentally triggered by a visitor at a grave and 'sparks from a brush cutter.' Lee Hye-young, a 65-year-old Andong resident, shared her trauma from the event, saying, 'It was really scary to see the sparks flying around all at once. While living in North Gyeongsang, I never thought such a large disaster would strike us.'
