South Korea is struggling to contain a series of wildfires that have ravaged its southern regions for days, claiming at least 26 lives and destroying over 300 structures.
Thousands of personnel and dozens of helicopters were deployed on Thursday in a desperate bid to douse what authorities describe as the worst wildfires in the nation’s history.
Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said that while a small amount of rainfall—less than 5mm—was expected, it would be insufficient to significantly aid firefighting efforts.
Among the deceased were a helicopter pilot who crashed while combating the flames, four firefighters, and workers who were trapped by fast-moving fires intensified by strong winds.
Authorities have not provided detailed information on civilian casualties, except that most were in their 60s and 70s.
Investigations suggest that human error may have ignited several of the fires since they began last Friday. Officials suspect that some blazes were triggered by individuals clearing overgrown grass from family tombs or due to sparks from welding work.
According to the government’s disaster response centre, the wildfires have scorched approximately 35,810 hectares (88,488 acres) of land in the southeast—an unprecedented scale.
Also read: 16 dead, 19 injured as wildfires sweep South Korea
The fires have left nearly 30 people injured, displaced over 24,200 residents, and reduced approximately 320 buildings and structures to ashes.
More than 9,000 personnel and around 120 helicopters have been pressed into service to bring the fires under control.
“Damages are snowballing,” acting President Han Duck-soo stated in a televised address on Wednesday.
“There are concerns that we'll have wildfire damages that we've never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities on putting out the wildfires this week.”
The hardest-hit areas include Andong city, Uiseong and Sancheong counties, and the industrial city of Ulsan.
As the fires advanced, authorities were forced to order evacuations in two villages near Andong, including Puncheon, home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hahoe folk village, which dates back to the 14th-15th century.
Hikers were also advised to leave Jiri Mountain as flames spread closer.
While officials had earlier stated that the largest wildfires had been largely contained, strong winds and arid conditions allowed the fires to reignite and spread. The destruction extended beyond homes and factories to include historic sites.
In Uiseong, nearly 20 out of 30 structures at the Gounsa temple complex—originally built in the 7th century—were lost to the infernos.
Among the destroyed buildings were two nationally designated “treasures”—a pavilion overlooking a stream, erected in 1668, and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to commemorate a king’s longevity.
In response, the Korea Forest Service raised its wildfire warning to the highest level, requiring local authorities to intensify emergency measures, increase restrictions on forest and park entry, and urge military units to suspend live-fire exercises.
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