Sancheong: The death toll from a wave of wildfires in the southeastern region has risen to 15, officials said Wednesday, as firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the fires began in Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province last Friday and have since spread to nearby Uiseong, advancing towards neighboring Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, driven by strong and dry winds.
Officials reported that of the victims, two were found in Andong, three in Cheongsong, four in Yeongyang, and six in Yeongdeok. In Yeongyang, the four victims were found burned to death on a road at around 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The flames destroyed Goun Temple in Uiseong, an ancient temple constructed in 681 during the Silla Dynasty. Fortunately, national treasures stored in the temple had been relocated to other locations for safety.
Thousands of firefighters, along with dozens of helicopters and vehicles, have been deployed to fight the blazes. Since last Friday, the military has also deployed approximately 5,000 service members and 146 helicopters to aid in combating the wildfires in the region.
Furthermore, the justice ministry reported that around 500 inmates at a prison in North Gyeongsang Province were transferred to another facility overnight to escape the advancing flames. Initially, the ministry had considered relocating approximately 3,500 inmates from several prisons in the region but reduced the number as some of the fires were extinguished.