A catastrophic wildfire in South Korea killed three firefighters and a civil servant, and the government has declared a state of emergency in southeastern areas. The blaze started in Sancheong county on Friday afternoon and spread rapidly, prompting authorities to initiate massive firefighting operations.
More than 304 personnel and 20 helicopters have been sent to fight the fire by South Korea’s Interior Ministry, causing over 200 residents of 15 villages to be evacuated.
A spokesman for the fire agency confirmed the devastating loss of life, saying, “Four people – three firefighters and one public servant – have been confirmed to be dead.”
Several Wildfires in South Korea
The crisis is not confined to Sancheong. The Korea Forest Service said 16 individual wildfires raged in the country on Saturday alone. The government has posted “severe” fire warnings—in its most serious alert level—on 12 areas, including North and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan, and Daejeon.
To prevent the spread of fires, authorities have closed highway sections in affected areas, asking people to stay alert.
Emergency Declared in Three Provinces
Following the worsening situation, the Interior Ministry announced a state of emergency in Ulsan, North Gyeongsang, and South Gyeongsang provinces. Authorities warned that concurrent wildfires throughout the nation are resulting in huge losses, as high winds and dry weather fan the fires.
Government Calls for Urgent Action
South Korea‘s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, ordered agencies to “mobilize all available manpower and apparatus to rapidly douse” the blaze. His office insisted on fast action to contain damage.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
Although wildfires are determined by various factors, severe weather patterns are increasingly on the rise. Experts indicate that climate change is responsible for heightening the intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and forest fires, which in turn increases the frequency of such disasters.
The authorities continue to fight the raging fires, with the aim of avoiding further casualties and reducing damage. The situation is still critical, with firefighters working day and night to put out the fires before they spread even further.
