South Korea is fighting one of the most devastating fire crises in its history, with at least 18 people dead and more than 27,000 were evacuated by southeast cities and cities, including Andong, Uiseong and Ulsan.
The fires, which began on Friday, have scanned over 17,400 hectares (43,000 acres), powered by strong winds and unusually dry conditions. Authorities are afraid that the worst has not yet come as forecasts offer little chance of rain.
Among the deaths are four firefighters and civil servants who caught up in rapidly changing flames during the weekend. At least 20 others have been injured, with many communities remaining in ruins.
One of the most devastating casualties was the destruction of the 1,300 -year -old Goulation Temple in Uiseong. Although some national treasures, including a stone statue of the Buddha, were rescued, much of the wooden structure was consumed by the fire.
In a television direction, active President Han Duck-sooo is called “unprecedented” and said the country was facing “damage we have never experienced before”.
“All available resources, staff and equipment are growing, but the situation is not good,” Han said. “We were desperately hoping for rain to help erase flames.”
Over 9,000 emergency correspondents, including 5,000 troops and firefighters, have been mobilized, with 130 helicopters and hundreds of vehicles. The National Fire Department has put the notice at the highest level for the first time this year.
On Tuesday, a firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountains of the Uiseong County. Authorities are investigating the cause.
Several cultural heritage venues are threatened, including the popular village of Hahoe Hahoe and Byeongsan Confucian Academy. Emergency shelters have been created in schools and gyms to house the residents.
At Yeongdeok, the fires forced multi -villages to evacuate and reportedly caused the relocation of more than 2,600 prisoners from a nearby prison.
Employees suspect that human activity may have started fires – possibly by welding sparks or grass combustion near the ancestral graves.
Experts have linked the scale and frequency of such fires to climate change. South Korea faces significantly drier than the middle period, with more than 240 fires recorded this year – 2.4 times higher than in the same period in 2024.
The Lee Byung-Doo forest expert said: “We must accept that climate change feeds larger fires and increases pores and human resources accordingly.”
Han Duck-sooo promised a complete review of the fire response when the crisis recedes and stressed the need for improved prevention measures, including stronger sanctions for illegal combustion.
“This level of damage is in contrast to anything we have seen. Once the fires begin, they require huge effort and risks to control,” Han said.
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