Seoul: Firefighters using helicopters and soldiers were struggling to contain the nation's worst-ever wildfires on Thursday that have ravaged the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the death toll from the blazes reaching 27 and another 32 injured.
According to Yonhap News Agency, since last Friday, a wave of wildfires has ravaged the region, and some 36,000 hectares of woodland have been burned. This is nearly 13,000 hectares more than the 23,794 hectares damaged by the east coast wildfires in 2000, which were the worst in the nation's history at the time.
About 37,000 people have been displaced, including 29,911 in the Uiseong and Andong areas in North Gyeongsang Province. Earlier in the day, acting President Han Duck-soo instructed acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong to reside in North Gyeongsang Province and oversee relief efforts for wildfire victims until the blazes are brought under control.
"It is worrying that many of the victims are senior citizens, including patients at nursing hospitals," Han said. "Please personally take care of the victims' health and safety on the ground and activate an efficient support system so that the wildfire-extinguishing personnel and volunteer workers do not burn out," he added.
On the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya issued a message of condolence to the wildfire victims in Korea, hoping for a "fast recovery of affected people and their return to normal life." Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima also delivered a consolation message for the victims.
In North Gyeongsang Province, intense efforts have been underway to limit the spread of wildfires. Authorities mobilized helicopters, fire trucks, and firefighting personnel to battle the blaze that began in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Saturday and has rapidly spread due to strong winds.
Some 5 mm of rain was expected to fall in North Gyeongsang Province, according to weather officials.