Seoul: Firefighters using helicopters 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 26 and injuring another 30. Since last Friday, a wave of wildfires has ravaged the region, burning approximately 36,000 hectares of woodland, surpassing the 23,794 hectares damaged by the east coast wildfires in 2000, which were previously the worst in the nation's history.
According to Yonhap News Agency, about 37,000 people have been displaced, including 29,911 in the Uiseong and Andong areas in North Gyeongsang Province. Acting President Han Duck-soo has 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. Han expressed concerns about the wellbeing of senior citizens, including patients at nursing hospitals, urging efficient support for both victims and firefighting personnel.
In North Gyeongsang Province, authorities resumed efforts to limit the spread of wildfires. Forestry officials began deploying helicopters, fire trucks, and firefighting personnel at 6:30 a.m. to battle the blaze that began in Uiseong County on Saturday. Weather officials anticipated about 5 mm of rain in the area, which could aid firefighting efforts.
The wildfires are presumed to have killed 21 people in the province, including four in Andong and eight in Yeongdeok County. However, there are signs of easing near UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, where the fires showed signs of subsiding overnight.
A forestry official mentioned helicopters were on standby for deployment to affected areas, although morning weather conditions posed challenges. Water and power disruptions have compounded the difficulties faced by residents, with bottled water and emergency supplies being distributed. Communication services in Yeongdeok County were restored after overnight outages.
More than 33,000 people remain displaced, with approximately 15,400 unable to return home. An estimated 2,448 houses have been damaged by the wildfires, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.