At least 18 people have died as wildfires sweep through South Korea’s southeastern region.
The blazes have forced over 27,000 residents to evacuate their homes, according to government reports. Fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, the fires have destroyed entire neighborhoods, closed schools, and necessitated the transfer of hundreds of prison inmates.
Acting President Han Duck-soo stated, “We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever, but the situation is not good.” He noted that the U.S. military in Korea is also providing assistance.
As of this morning, 14 deaths were linked to a wildfire originating in Uiseong County, with four additional fatalities associated with another fire in Sancheong County, the Safety Ministry reported. Many victims were in their 60s and 70s, according to local police official Son Chang-ho.
The Uiseong fire is only 68% contained and is being exacerbated by gusty winds. Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science, described the fire’s scale and speed as “unimaginable.”
Authorities have designated the affected areas as special disaster zones. The government has mobilized thousands of firefighters and military personnel in an effort to control the fires. Dry conditions are expected to persist, complicating firefighting efforts.
Experts warn that climate change is projected to increase the frequency of large-scale wildfires in the region.
