Deadly Wildfires Devastate South Korea Southeastern Region

Death Toll and Casualties

At least 18 people have died, and 19 others have been injured due to multiple wildfires raging across South Korea’s southeastern regions. The fires have destroyed over 200 structures, including the 1,300-year-old Gounsa Buddhist temple, and forced approximately 27,000 residents to evacuate their homes.

Scale of the Disaster

The wildfires began last Friday and have since burned approximately 43,330 acres, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. Efforts to contain the fires have been challenging, with about 4,650 firefighters, soldiers, and other personnel, supported by approximately 130 helicopters, deployed to combat the blazes.

Government Response and Emergency Measures

Acting President Han Duck-soo has described the situation as causing “unprecedented damage” and emphasized the need to concentrate all capabilities to extinguish the wildfires. The government has designated the hardest-hit southeastern regions as disaster zones to focus resources and accelerate recovery efforts.

The Korea Forest Service has raised its wildfire warning to the highest “serious” level nationwide, requiring local governments to assign more workers to emergency response and tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks.

Possible Causes of the Wildfires

Authorities suspect that human error, such as the use of fire while clearing overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work, may have caused several of the fires.

Ongoing Challenges

The situation remains critical as dry conditions are expected to persist in the wildfire-hit regions. Emergency response teams continue to battle the flames, working to protect homes, historical sites, and infrastructure.

“Deadly Wildfires Devastate South Korea Southeastern Region”