Seoul, South Korea – Wildfires continue to wreak havoc in South Korea’s southeast, claiming the lives of at least 18 people and leaving 19 others injured, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The situation has been described as “unprecedented” by acting president Han Duck-soo, who emphasized the severity of the fires, stating that they are the worst in the nation’s history.
The fires have prompted the evacuation of over 23,000 individuals and have caused extensive damage to several heritage sites, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple that was tragically destroyed. As the crisis persists, thousands of firefighters and around 5,000 military personnel have been mobilized to combat the multiple blazes, with support from US military helicopters stationed in Korea.
On Tuesday, the national fire agency raised the crisis to the highest fire response level, underscoring the gravity of the situation. These wildfires are particularly devastating as they have already claimed the lives of 18 individuals, a rarity in a country where wildfires and related fatalities are infrequent.
The blazes, which have consumed approximately 17,000 hectares of forest, have also left significant destruction in their wake, including the loss of the renowned Gounsa Temple, built in 618 AD. Acting president Han expressed the government’s commitment to deploying all available resources to control the fires, despite challenging weather conditions hindering their efforts.
In the midst of battling the wildfires, South Korea faces an added challenge of drier-than-normal conditions and decreased rainfall, factors that have contributed to the rise in wildfires this year compared to previous years. The government has vowed to intensify measures against illegal burning, a key contributor to wildfires, and to strengthen prevention strategies moving forward.
As South Korea grapples with the aftermath of the wildfires that began in Sancheong County before spreading to neighboring cities, the government remains focused on controlling the crisis and preventing future disasters. The impact of these fires on the landscape, cultural heritage, and lives lost serve as a stark reminder of the importance of swift and coordinated emergency response efforts in the face of natural disasters.