Daegu: The National Fire Agency (NFA) issued an emergency response order Monday to mobilize available national personnel and equipment to put out a fire spreading in the southeastern city of Daegu, officials said. The order was issued approximately two hours after the fire began around 2 p.m. on Mount Hamji, located about 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The blaze was reported to be spreading toward nearby villages, prompting swift action from authorities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the NFA's emergency order has led to the mobilization of 28 additional fire engines to aid in extinguishing the fire. This is in addition to the 67 fire engines and 29 fire helicopters already in operation. While no casualties have been reported, approximately 3,400 residents were evacuated to local elementary schools as a precautionary measure.
The Korea Forest Service has also issued a Level 3 wildfire response, the highest on its three-tier scale, due to strong winds exacerbating the spread of the flames. A Level 3 response is triggered when wind speeds exceed 7 meters per second, the anticipated damage area surpasses 100 hectares, and firefighting efforts are expected to continue for over 24 hours. As of 8 p.m., fire authorities reported that around 151 hectares of land had been affected by the fire, with the containment rate at 19 percent.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has instructed related authorities to "use all available equipment and personnel" to combat the fire and ensure the safe evacuation of residents. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "As the wildfire is spreading rapidly due to strong winds and there are residential areas nearby, make sure to take all necessary measures for emergency rescue and evacuation to prevent any loss of life."
The Daegu city government has indicated that the fire is suspected to have originated in a restricted mountain access area and plans to conduct an investigation into the cause once firefighting efforts conclude. In response to the ongoing emergency, two elementary schools and one middle school in the affected area have announced temporary closures on Tuesday due to safety concerns.