International: Wildfires sweeping through southeastern South Korea have claimed at least 18 lives, with one person still missing, as authorities scramble to contain the fast-moving blazes.
The fires, which began last Friday in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, have since spread to multiple regions, including Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok.
Strong winds and dry conditions continue to fuel the fires, according to officials. The Korea Forest Service has reported that victims have been found across the affected areas, with two fatalities in Andong, three in Cheongsong, six in Yeongyang, and seven in Yeongdeok. Ten others have suffered injuries, including two in critical condition.
In Yeongyang, four people were discovered burned to death on a road late Tuesday night, highlighting the fire’s devastating speed and intensity. The blazes have destroyed over 17,000 hectares of forest, as well as 209 homes and factories. The historic Goun Temple in Uiseong, dating back to 681 during the Silla Dynasty, was consumed by the flames, although national treasures housed inside had been safely relocated beforehand.
Emergency crews are engaged in an extensive firefighting operation, deploying thousands of personnel, helicopters, and vehicles. As of Wednesday, nearly 5,000 military personnel and 146 helicopters have been mobilized to help contain the inferno. The crisis has also forced authorities to evacuate prisoners from affected areas, with around 500 inmates from a North Gyeongsang Province prison relocated overnight as a precaution.
South Korea’s acting president, Han Duck-soo, has described the wildfires as among the worst in the nation’s history, calling for an all-out effort to prevent further destruction. Firefighters continue to battle the flames as authorities work to assess the full scale of the disaster and provide relief to those affected.
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