Inje: Authorities have deployed 29 helicopters and hundreds of personnel to bring a wildfire in the northeast province of Gangwon under control, with the blaze believed to be nearly 70 percent contained, according to officials Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the wildfire began Thursday afternoon on a hillside in Inje, 132 kilometers east of Seoul, as reported by the interior ministry. Forestry officials detailed that 338 personnel and 69 pieces of equipment were mobilized to combat the fire overnight. However, the rugged terrain of the mountain posed significant challenges to the firefighting efforts.
A total of 29 helicopters were deployed to tackle the remaining flames early Friday. The fire line extended to approximately 2.5 kilometers, with containment efforts reaching 68 percent, authorities stated. While no casualties have been reported so far, 12 residents from nearby households were evacuated to senior centers and other facilities as a precautionary measure.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday instructed local authorities to ensure the swift and safe evacuation of residents. He also emphasized the importance of preparing evacuation shelters and emergency relief supplies to minimize inconvenience for evacuees.