Seoul: At least four people were killed, six people were injured, and approximately 1,500 people were evacuated as wildfires fueled by strong winds scorched areas of the nation’s southeastern region, disaster authorities said Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the fire began in Sancheong County, about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Friday and spread to other parts. Of the six people who were injured, five were seriously harmed. All victims were found in Sancheong, as reported by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
A total of 3,286.11 hectares of land-equivalent to approximately 4,600 football fields-has been burned so far, with more than 1,000 hectares destroyed in both Euiseong in North Gyeongsang Province and Sancheong. About 1,500 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters as authorities continue efforts to contain the fires.
As of 8 a.m., firefighters were working to extinguish wildfires in four areas across the southeastern region.