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The Independent
28-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Mapped: Satellite images reveal how South Korea wildfires spread
Rain and cooler temperatures have brought some much-needed relief to South Korean firefighters battling the country's worst wildfires on record, but the largest blaze still isn't fully contained. The fires, which started on Friday last week, left at least 28 people dead, displaced over 30,000, and burned through nearly 48,000 hectares of land. By this Friday morning, the flames were 85 per cent contained, Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop told a televised briefing. The fires have destroyed hundreds of homes, factories, and ancient Buddhist temples, including a 7th century Gounda temple. Fire crews were focusing efforts on extinguishing the remaining blazes with the help of over 9,000 personnel, 125 helicopters, and hundreds of vehicles deployed across affected areas. Two fires began on Friday, with the largest of the fires in Uiseong County, which rapidly spread eastward, torching forests and villages in Andong, Yeongdeok, and parts of Sancheong-gun, stripping hillsides down to smouldering ash. According to the Korea Forest Service, a total of 47,860 hectares (118,265 acres) have burned so far, making this the largest wildfire event in South Korea 's history, surpassing the 2000 fire that destroyed 24,000 hectares. Aerial photos and satellite images show large blackened patches across the region, particularly near Uiseong, where the firefront moved with astonishing speed, reaching the coastal town of Yeongdeok, 51km away, in just 12 hours earlier this week. 'Hazes have been diminished because of the rain last night, so that's favourable for securing visibility,' said Lim Sang-seop, chief of the Korea Forest Service. 'Also, temperatures are now lower than the last few days, so things are very favourable to put out the wildfires.' But while the cooler weather is helping firefighters gain control, authorities and experts warn that the underlying conditions that fuelled the fires, including warmer-than-usual temperatures, dry vegetation, and strong seasonal winds, are only becoming more frequent with the climate crisis. 'Only three months into 2025, we've already witnessed record-breaking wildfire activity in multiple regions,' said Dr Kimberley Simpson, a nature-based climate solutions fellow at the University of Sheffield. 'As climate change drives rising temperatures and alters rainfall patterns, the conditions that give rise to these devastating fires are becoming more frequent.' The fires have destroyed thousands of structures, including homes, factories, and the 1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple, a revered Buddhist site in Uiseong. Heritage officials said some of the site's national treasures, including an eighth-century stone Buddha statue, were removed before the flames reached the main wooden buildings. Video footage from evacuees shows smoke-choked skies and flames approaching temporary shelters, including school playgrounds and sports fields. 'I just kept crying this morning,' said 79-year-old Seo Jae Tak, an evacuee in Andong. 'When I went back yesterday, the entire mountain had turned to ashes. It's just unbelievable. All I can do is cry.' Among the 28 killed were four firefighters and government workers who were caught by fast-moving flames, as well as a pilot whose helicopter crashed mid-operation. Most of those who died were elderly residents, some of whom struggled to evacuate in time, officials said. In a news conference on Friday, Lee Cheol-woo, governor of North Gyeongsang Province, the hardest-hit region, said the fires have exposed gaps in the country's preparedness. 'We must completely overhaul our wildfire response strategy in the face of extreme climate conditions,' he said. Mr Lee called for stronger firefighting equipment, including aircraft with night-time water-cannon capabilities, and clearer evacuation protocols for communities with ageing populations. Currently, South Korea lacks sufficient tools to combat fires after dark. 'In the night, firefighting is done solely with manual efforts,' Lee said. 'But with the increased density of our forests compared to the past, it's difficult to manage with just that.' The country's national disaster response centre echoed those concerns, with deputy chief Lee Han-kyung calling the events of the past week 'the reality of climate crisis that we have yet experienced'. Despite the progress in containing the flames, around 8,000 people remain in shelters as of Friday. With satellite images still showing heat anomalies across the region, and officials warning of possible flare-ups, the work of fully extinguishing the fires is far from over. South Korea's fire season typically peaks in spring and autumn, but the scale and speed of this year's blazes have shocked many, a signal, experts say, of a changing baseline where extreme weather is no longer the exception, but the rule.
Al Bawaba
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Al Bawaba
Death toll from wildfires in South Korea reaches 26
ISTANBUL The number of people killed in wildfires sweeping across parts of South Korea has risen to 26, authorities said Thursday. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said wildfires in North and South Gyeongsang provinces have caused 56 casualties: 26 deaths, eight serious injuries, and 22 light injuries, according to Yonhap News Agency. As many as 37,185 residents have been displaced, including 29,911 in the Uiseong and Andong areas about 190 kilometers (118 miles) southeast of Seoul. Some 20,485 people have returned home after evacuation, while the remaining 16,700 are still staying in shelters. Three elderly residents died when a vehicle carrying them became engulfed in flames during an evacuation of a nursing home which housed 21 residents, all in their 70s and 80s, in Yeongdeok-eup, Yeongdeok County in eastern South Korea. The flames also gutted the historic Gounsa Temple in Uiseong County, originally built in 681 AD by a Buddhist monk during the Silla Dynasty. Cultural officials moved the temple's 9th-century Stone Seated Buddha and other historical artifacts to safety before the fire reached the site. Thousands of firefighters, dozens of helicopters and emergency vehicles have been deployed since the fires began last Friday in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province. Fueled by strong, dry winds, the wildfires have since spread rapidly north to Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok. The South Korean military has also deployed an estimated 5,000 service members and sent 146 helicopters to help fight the fires alongside thousands of firefighters. The Korea Forest Service said the fire extinguishing rate stood at 52% in Andong, 54% in Uiseong and 77% in Sancheong, Hadong and Cheongsong, respectively. Korea University announced Wednesday that it will offer scholarships to students from the areas affected by the wildfires.
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.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
At least 18 dead in 'worst wildfires' in South Korea's history
At least 18 people have been killed and 19 injured as South Korea's wildfires continue to ravage the country's southeast, according to the latest numbers from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The "unprecedented" crisis remains critical, according to acting president Han Duck-soo, who said the fires are "rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation's history". More than 23,000 people have been evacuated and hundreds of structures damaged, with strong winds fuelling the blaze. Several heritage cultural sites have also been affected, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple that was destroyed, while other national treasures are being relocated. Thousands of firefighters and about 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to contain multiple blazes, including helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea. On Tuesday, the national fire agency said it had raised the crisis to the highest fire response level, the first time this year such an alert has been issued. Wildfires are relatively uncommon in South Korea, and related fatalities are rare. The current fires, which have killed 18 people within the past few days, are already the deadliest in the country's history. About 17,000 hectares of forest have also been destroyed, making the fires the third largest in South Korea's history in terms of area. The Korea Heritage Service, an agency charged with preserving and promoting Korean cultural heritage, upgraded its disaster warning to the highest "serious" level on Tuesday due to very high risk of damage to heritage sites. The blazes raging in the city of Uiseong burned down the Gounsa Temple, built in 618 AD, which was one of the largest temples in the province. A Buddhist architectural structure deemed a national treasure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was also destroyed, forestry authorities confirmed. Acting president Han said all available personnel and equipment have been deployed, but strong winds continue to hamper the support efforts. "We were desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames," Han added. "This level of wildfire damage is unlike anything we've experienced before." There was no rain forecast for the region on Wednesday and only a small amount - five to 10mm - expected on Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Han said the government will thoroughly review all shortcomings in the wildfire response once the crisis is controlled and seek to improve prevention strategies for the future. "Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires tremendous resources and puts precious lives in danger," he said. South Korea has been experiencing drier than normal conditions with less rainfall than average. There have already been 244 wildfires this year - 2.4 times more than the same period last year. The government also promised to strengthen enforcement against illegal burning -one of the main causes of wildfires - and crack down on individual carelessness. The wildfires first broke out last Friday in Sancheong County, in the country's southeast, but have now spread to neighbouring cities of Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok. At least two dead as wildfires rage in South Korea Drone footage shows deadly forest fires in South Korea
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
South Korea: at least 18 dead in 'worst' fires in nation's history
At least 18 people have been killed and 19 injured as South Korea's wildfires continue to ravage the country's southeast, according to the latest numbers from the Ministry of the Interior and "unprecedented" crisis remains critical, according to acting president Han Duck-soo, who said the fires are "rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation's history".More than 23,000 people have been evacuated and hundreds of structures damaged, with strong winds fuelling the heritage cultural sites have also been affected, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple that was destroyed, while other national treasures are being relocated. Thousands of firefighters and about 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to contain multiple blazes, including helicopters from the US military stationed in Tuesday, the national fire agency said it had raised the crisis to the highest fire response level, the first time this year such an alert has been are relatively uncommon in South Korea, and related fatalities are rare. The current fires, which have killed 18 people within the past few days, are already the deadliest in the country's 17,000 hectares of forest have also been destroyed, making the fires the third largest in South Korea's history in terms of Korea Heritage Service, an agency charged with preserving and promoting Korean cultural heritage, upgraded its disaster warning to the highest "serious" level on Tuesday due to very high risk of damage to heritage blazes raging in the city of Uiseong burned down the Gounsa Temple, built in 618 AD, which was one of the largest temples in the province.A Buddhist architectural structure deemed a national treasure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was also destroyed, forestry authorities president Han said all available personnel and equipment have been deployed, but strong winds continue to hamper the support efforts."We were desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames," Han added. "This level of wildfire damage is unlike anything we've experienced before."There was no rain forecast for the region on Wednesday and only a small amount - five to 10mm - expected on Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological said the government will thoroughly review all shortcomings in the wildfire response once the crisis is controlled and seek to improve prevention strategies for the future."Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires tremendous resources and puts precious lives in danger," he Korea has been experiencing drier than normal conditions with less rainfall than average. There have already been 244 wildfires this year - 2.4 times more than the same period last government also promised to strengthen enforcement against illegal burning -one of the main causes of wildfires - and crack down on individual wildfires first broke out last Friday in Sancheong County, in the country's southeast, but have now spread to neighbouring cities of Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok.
