At least 18 lives have been lost and 19 individuals injured as fierce wildfires continue to devastate South Korea’s southeastern region, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The crisis has reached unprecedented levels, as described by acting president Han Duck-soo, who stated that the wildfires are “rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation’s history.” The scale of this disaster has forced the evacuation of over 23,000 residents and has impacted several cultural heritage sites, including a historic 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple that has been completely destroyed.
Firefighting efforts and challenges
In a tragic turn of events, a firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountainous area of Uiseong county shortly after noon on Wednesday. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of this incident.
Thousands of firefighters, alongside approximately 5,000 military personnel, have been mobilized to combat the numerous blazes. Additionally, helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea have been deployed to assist in the firefighting efforts. On Tuesday, the national fire agency elevated the crisis to the highest response level, marking the first time this year that such an alert has been issued.
While wildfires are relatively rare in South Korea, the current situation has already resulted in the highest number of fatalities in the country’s history, with 18 people having perished within just a few days. Approximately 17,000 hectares of forest have been devastated, making the current wildfires the third-largest in terms of area affected.
The flames have wreaked havoc in cities like Uiseong, leading to the destruction of the Gounsa Temple, which was established in 618 AD and renowned as one of the largest temples in the province. A national treasure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), also a significant Buddhist structure, has been confirmed as destroyed by forestry authorities.
Government response and future strategies
Acting president Han noted that all available personnel and resources have been deployed to tackle the situation; however, strong winds are presenting a significant challenge to firefighting efforts. “We were desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames,” Han remarked. “This level of wildfire damage is unlike anything we’ve experienced before.”
As of Wednesday, no rain was forecast for the area, with only a slight possibility of five to ten millimeters expected on Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Han indicated that the government would conduct a thorough review of any shortcomings in the wildfire response once the crisis has been contained, with a focus on enhancing future prevention measures.
“Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires tremendous resources and puts precious lives in danger,” he stated.
In light of drier conditions leading to less rainfall than usual, the country has experienced 244 wildfires this year, which is 2.4 times more than the same period last year. The government has pledged to strengthen enforcement against illegal burning, one of the primary causes of wildfires, and to take action against individual carelessness.
The wildfires initially ignited last Friday in Sancheong County and have since spread to adjacent cities including Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok.