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Korea Herald
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Fire-ravaged southeast reels from unprecedented damage
Death toll rises to 27; authorities say fire spread is fastest on record; power, water supply, traffic disrupted Three wildfires continued to ravage southern South Korea for the seventh consecutive day on Thursday, with exhausted firefighters battling the deadly blazes while evacuees faced the devastation of losing their homes in the country's most destructive wildfire disaster. The blazes scorched over 36,000 hectares of woodland — equivalent t about half the size of Seoul — despite a week of containment efforts, claiming 27 lives and injuring 32 as of Thursday afternoon, according to the authorities. Disaster authorities said that the wind-driven wildfires had spread at some 8 to 10 kilometers per hour. Though rainfall was expected Thursday, the forestry official announced it may not be enough to contain wildfires. "We plan to make every effort, considering the possibility that the wildfire may persist for an extended period," said Lim Sang-seop, who heads the Korea Forest Service, in a press briefing Thursday. Prolonged evacuations, along with power and water being cut off, have exhausted many evacuees. One Andong-based village council chief, surnamed Jung, was also quoted by Yonhap as saying that the evacuees from his village lacked essential relief supplies, including underwear and toothpaste. 'The residents received their first aid kits, but additional supplies are needed as the evacuation is taking longer than expected,' Jung said. Though most of the evacuees were elderly rural residents, their emergency medications were reported to be insufficient. The Safety Ministry and different local disaster relief teams supplied daily necessities and bedding. But some of the shelters, like Gilan Middle School in Andong, reportedly failed to receive tents for displaced residents, leaving some elderly victims cold. The disaster authorities stated that they will try to make additional measures to minimize the evacuees' inconvenience by using both private and public lodging. The government announced that it had set up two major support centers to expand current medical and psychological aid, offer relief, legal advice, insurance-related counsels and support temporary residential facilities. Over the last seven days, wildfires have engulfed multiple cities and towns in the Gyeongsang provinces — in Sancheong and Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, as well as Uiseong, Andong, Yeongdeok, Yeongyang and Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province, and the city of Ulsan. The biggest conflagration of the three started in Uiseong — a county located in the country's southeastern region — on March 22, claiming the lives of 23 people and forcing almost 30,000 residents to evacuate as of Thursday. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the affected area spans about 33,204 hectares, surpassing the east coast wildfires in 2000 — which had previously been Korea's biggest forest fire on record — that destroyed 23,794 hectares. The total number of evacuees rose to 37,185 on Thursday, an increase of some 10,000 people from Wednesday's number. Among the residents, 20,485 have returned home while 16,700 remain displaced. Though authorities have attempted all-out efforts to combat the blaze by mobilizing the national firefighting systems with some 4,600 personnel, 79 helicopters and 693 fire trucks, trying to contain the fire under the strong winds — some 72 to 90 kilometers per hour — was untenable. On Thursday, wildfires started in Sancheong and spread westward toward Jungsan-ri and Samjang-myeon, which lie at the easternmost tip of Jirisan National Park, some of South Korea's largest mountains. Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province announced that it had sent out emergency alerts to evacuate all visitors from Jirisan National Park. Some 1,600 residents were also evacuated to outside the fire's perimeter. Another public safety alarm was sent to urge more people from Andong to evacuate on Thursday as well. The fires have already prompted a few mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of the city's residents since Tuesday. But the additional emergency alert was made as wildfires moved north, threatening central Andong. A Buddhist monk presiding at Beopseongsa, a temple in the path of the Uiseong wildfire in Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang Province, has been found dead, according to local newswire Yonhap News Agency. The chief of Hwame 1-ri village, surnamed Lee, was quoted by Yonhap as saying that the Buddhist monk had been protecting the temple alone for a long time, offering shelter to those who lived alone and sharing food with others. 'It seems he stayed at the temple until the very end to protect it,' Lee said. Authorities announced some electrical substations went offline Wednesday night, leading to power outages in the villages. Water purification plants were heavily affected by the wildfire in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, with one incinerated and the other stopped by a power outage. Mobile communication services were reportedly disrupted across Yeongdeok and Uljin — another coastal county that lies adjacent to Yeongdeok — on Wednesday night. While the exact cause is still under investigation, the ministry suspected that the wildfires damaged communication lines of SK Telecom, KT Corp. and LG Uplus. Different sections of the local expressway were under control as well. A 158-kilometer portion of the Seosan-Yeongdeok Expressway, which connects Sangju — a western city of North Gyeongsang Province — and Yeongdeok was closed. A 91-kilometer portion of the Jungang Expressway that links Sangju and Uiseong has also been shut down since Wednesday. Meanwhile, the acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok were listed as special disaster zones after considering the growing size of forest loss and the increasing number of wildfire victims. The government previously designated Sancheong as a special disaster zone on March 22. Uiseong, Ulju and Hadong were added to this list on Monday. The designation of a special disaster zone allows the government to provide partial financial aid for the restoration of both private and public facilities damaged by wildfires. The affected residents will also receive a range of financial support, including a reduction in public utility fees, deferred local tax payments and more.
Gulf Today
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Gulf Today
South Korea wildfire death toll climbs to 24
At least 24 people have died as multiple wildfires rage across South Korea's southeastern region, with thousands of firefighters aided by the military deployed in a bid to contain one of the country's worst forest fires in decades. The deadly wildfires have spread rapidly and forced more than 27,000 residents to flee their homes, the government said. The blazes, fuelled by strong winds and dry weather, have razed entire neighbourhoods, closed schools and forced authorities to transfer hundreds of inmates from prisons. "We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good," Acting President Han Duck-soo said, adding that the U.S. military in Korea was also assisting. A wildfire spreads in Andong on Wednesday. AFP As of Wednesday at 5 a.m. (2100 GMT), 14 people had died in a wildfire starting in Uiseong county, while four other deaths were linked to another fire in Sancheong county, according to the Safety Ministry. Many of those who had perished were aged in their 60s and 70s, said Son Chang-ho, a local police official. The Uiseong fire, only 68% contained and exacerbated by gusty winds, shows "unimaginable" scale and speed, said Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science. Dry conditions were expected to persist in the wildfire-hit region on Wednesday, the Safety Ministry said. The wreckage of a crashed firefighting helicopter is seen at a mountain in Uiseong, South Korea, Wednesday. AP Climate change is projected to make wildfires more frequent globally, Lee said, citing the unusual timing of wildfires that ravaged part of Los Angeles in January and a recent wildfire in northeast Japan. "We have to admit large-scale wildfires are going to increase and for that we need more resources and trained manpower," he told Reuters. South Korea relies on helicopters to help extinguish wildfires due to its mountainous terrain, but Lee said there was a need to bring in other fire-fighting aircraft and drones that can operate at night. The Korea Forest Service said that it had grounded all of its fire-fighting helicopters after a chopper crashed on Wednesday while trying to put out a blaze. The pilot died in the crash, Yonhap News Agency reported. A person walks past houses destroyed by wildfires at a village in Yeongyang, South Korea, on Wednesday. AP Video footage from the scene showed what appeared to be a twisted fuselage alongside smoking debris scattered over a hillside. The cause of the accident was being investigated, authorities said. The agency has been facing technical issues with its fleet of 48 Russian helicopters. Eight had been out of operation since last year due to an inability to import parts from Russia because of sanctions related to the Ukraine war, Yoon Joon-byeong, a Democratic Party lawmaker said in October, using data from the forest service. Kim Jong-gun, a spokesperson for the Korea Forest Service, said the agency planned to secure more wildfire-fighting helicopters, responding to criticism about a lack of equipment and helicopters on the ground. He said that 4,919 firefighting personnel were being deployed on Wednesday, including hundreds of police officers and military units, while 87 helicopters were being used. The blazes that broke out on Saturday in Uiseong are yet to be contained, gutting ancient temples and destroying homes. The Uiseong fires were also threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy - in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said, as authorities sprayed fire retardants to try to protect them. The flames had already burnt down Goun Temple, an ancient temple built in 681, Yonhap reported. The government has designated the affected areas as special disaster zones, and said the fires had damaged more than 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres). Reuters
CBC
26-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Helicopter pilot fighting blaze among 24 killed in South Korea wildfires
The death toll in the wildfires raging across South Korea's southeastern region rose to 24, and the pilot of a firefighting helicopter was killed when the aircraft crashed on Wednesday, as the country battles some of its worst forest fires in decades. The deadly wildfires have spread rapidly and forced more than 27,000 residents to flee their homes, the government said. The blazes, fuelled by strong winds and dry weather, have razed entire neighbourhoods, closed schools and forced authorities to transfer hundreds of inmates from prisons. "We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever, but the situation is not good," acting President Han Duck-soo said, adding that the U.S. military in Korea was also assisting. The Korea Forest Service said 24 people had been confirmed dead in the fires. It did not give a breakdown, but earlier the Safety Ministry said 14 people had died in Uiseong county, and four other deaths were linked to a blaze in Sancheong county. Dry conditions were expected to persist in the wildfire-hit region on Wednesday, the safety ministry said. The Forest Service also said one of its firefighting helicopters crashed while trying to extinguish a blaze in the county of Uiseong, and the pilot was killed. South Korea relies on helicopters to tackle forest fires because of its mountainous terrain, and the incident led to the brief grounding of the fleet. Video footage from the scene showed what appeared to be a twisted fuselage alongside smoking debris scattered over a hillside. The cause of the accident was being investigated, authorities said. Eight Russian helicopters out of the Korea Forest Service's fleet of 48 used in firefighting had been taken out of operation since last year due to an inability to import parts from Russia because of sanctions related to the Ukraine war, Yoon Joon-byeong, a Democratic Party lawmaker said in October, using data from the forest service. Kim Jong-gun, a spokesperson for the Korea Forest Service, said the agency planned to secure more wildfire-fighting helicopters, responding to criticism about a lack of equipment and helicopters on the ground. He said that 4,919 firefighting personnel were being deployed on Wednesday, including hundreds of police officers and military units, while 87 helicopters were being used. Ancient temple destroyed The blazes that broke out on Saturday in Uiseong are yet to be contained, gutting ancient temples and destroying homes. The Uiseong fires were also threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites, Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy, in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said, as authorities sprayed fire retardants to try to protect them. The flames had already burned down Goun Temple, an ancient temple built in 681, Yonhap reported. The government has designated the affected areas as special disaster zones and said the fires had damaged more than 15,000 hectares. The Uiseong fire, only 68 per cent contained and exacerbated by gusty winds, shows "unimaginable" scale and speed, said Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science. Climate change is projected to make wildfires more frequent globally, Lee said, citing the unusual timing of wildfires that ravaged part of Los Angeles in January and a recent wildfire in northeast Japan.
Muscat Daily
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Muscat Daily
South Korea: Raging wildfires kill at least 18
Seoul, South Korea – Wildfires in South Korea have caused the death of at least 18 people, with blazes causing 'unprecedented damage', acting president Han Duck-soo said on Wednesday. A helicopter engaged in fighting the flames crashed, officials said. The pilot of the helicopter was killed, the official Yonhap news agency reported. Han told an emergency safety and disaster meeting that the blazes were 'developing in a way that is exceeding both existing prediction models and earlier expectations'. 'This is a full-scale national response,' the acting president said, adding that the government has raised the crisis alert to its highest level. Safety Ministry officials told the French AFP news agency that six people were seriously injured and about 13 others suffered minor injuries. More than a dozen fires began from Friday in Sancheong County in the southeast of Seoul. Dry winds and a prolonged drought spurred them on and slowed down rescue efforts. 'Throughout the night, chaos continued as power and communication lines were cut in several areas and roads were blocked,' Han said. Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze. However, Han acknowledged that 'constantly shifting wind directions and ongoing dry weather advisories have revealed the limitations of conventional firefighting methods'. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate as firefighters are working to control the flames. The Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also endangered. Authorities also evacuated thousands of prisoners out of detention centers in affected counties. Strong winds of up to 25 metres per second affected helicopter and drone rescue operations. What did witnesses say? Many evacuees had to flee at a few moments' notice. 'The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house,' Kwon So-han, a 79-year-old resident of Andong told AFP. 'Those who haven't experienced it won't know. I could only bring my body.' The government said it was working to provide shelter and support to those rescued. Many residents were being moved to temporary shelters, the acting president said, adding that authorities were trying to provide them with emergency relief and financial support. Weather forecast predicts rain on Wednesday, which authorities are hoping will provide some relief and aid rescue operations. Wildfires are common in South Korea during the dry season, but climate change has made the intensity much higher. DW
Asharq Al-Awsat
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
South Korea Wildfires Kill at Least 24, Pilot Killed as Firefighting Helicopter Crashes
The death toll in the wildfires raging across South Korea's southeastern region rose to 24 and the pilot of a firefighting helicopter was killed when the aircraft crashed on Wednesday, as the country battles some of its worst forest fires in decades. The deadly wildfires have spread rapidly and forced more than 27,000 people from their homes, the government said. The blazes, fueled by strong winds and dry weather, have razed entire neighborhoods, closed schools and forced authorities to transfer hundreds of inmates from prisons. "We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good," Acting President Han Duck-soo said, adding that the US military in Korea was also assisting. The Korea Forest Service said 24 people had been confirmed dead in the fires. It did not give a breakdown, but earlier the Safety Ministry said 14 people had died in Uiseong county, and four other deaths were linked to a blaze in Sancheong county, Many of the dead were older people in their 60s and 70s, said Son Chang-ho, a local police official. The Forest Service also said one of its fire-fighting helicopters crashed while trying to extinguish a blaze and the pilot was killed. South Korea relies on helicopters to tackle forest fires because of its mountainous terrain and the incident led to the brief grounding of the fleet. The Uiseong fire, only 68% contained and exacerbated by gusty winds, showed "unimaginable" scale and speed, said Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science. Climate change is projected to make wildfires more frequent globally, Lee said, citing the unusual timing of wildfires that ravaged part of Los Angeles in January and a recent wildfire in northeast Japan. "We have to admit large-scale wildfires are going to increase and for that we need more resources and trained manpower," he told Reuters. The Korea Forest Service has been facing technical issues with its fleet of 48 Russian helicopters. Eight have been out of operation since last year because sanctions related to the Ukraine war mean it cannot import parts, a Democratic Party lawmaker said in October. On Wednesday, an eyewitness said the Forest Service helicopter started making a strange sound before plunging to the ground. "It completely exploded and I couldn't even tell which parts were the propellers," Kim Jin-han, 63, told Reuters. Video footage from the scene showed what appeared to be smoking debris scattered over a hillside. The cause of the accident was being investigated, authorities said. The weather agency has forecast rain across South Korea on Thursday, though only between 5 to 10 mm was expected in fire-hit areas. More than 10,000 firefighters were being deployed in four separate areas on Wednesday, including hundreds of police officers and military units, while 87 helicopters were being used, the Safety Ministry said. Kim Jong-gun, a Forest Service spokesperson, said it planned to secure more wildfire-fighting helicopters, responding to criticism about a lack of equipment and helicopters. The blazes broke out on Saturday and were threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy - in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said, as authorities sprayed fire retardants to try to protect them. The flames had already burnt down Goun Temple, which was built in 681. The government has designated the affected areas as special disaster zones, and said the fires had damaged more than 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres).
