A massive wildfire in South Korea has burned through 17,000 hectares of land, with the latest reports confirming 26 fatalities, including a helicopter pilot, according to the national portal Adyrna, citing local media.
Firefighting efforts have been ongoing for five days, but strong winds have caused the flames to spread rapidly into residential areas. As a result, 27,000 people have been urgently evacuated, and authorities were forced to release hundreds of prisoners from a local prison.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, more than 200 homes have been destroyed, and the Gunsan Buddhist temple, which had stood for over 1,300 years, has been reduced to ashes. More than 9,000 firefighters, rescue workers, and military personnel have been deployed to combat the fire, utilizing over 500 pieces of specialized equipment and helicopters. However, after a helicopter crash, authorities have banned flights over the burning areas.
The rapid spread of the fire has been fueled by dry weather and strong winds. Currently, a state of emergency has been declared in three regions.
“Our country is facing the most devastating wildfire in its history. If we fail to extinguish it soon, we will face serious consequences. If the fire spreads further, we may not have enough resources to contain it,” said Acting President of the Republic of Korea, Han Duck-soo.
