Seoul: At least four people have lost their lives, six others are injured, and approximately 1,500 residents have been evacuated due to wildfires ravaging the southeastern region of the country, as reported by disaster authorities. The fires, driven by strong winds, originated in Sancheong County, located about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Friday and have since spread to adjacent areas.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters confirmed that all casualties occurred in Sancheong. The injured include five individuals who have sustained serious injuries. The wildfires have consumed a total of 4,150 hectares of land, which is roughly equivalent to 5,811 football fields, with significant damage reported in Euiseong in North Gyeongsang Province and Sancheong.
Efforts to contain the fires continue as around 1,500 residents have been relocated to temporary shelters. By 5 p.m., firefighting teams were actively working to extinguish fires in four locations across the southeastern region. The government has announced special financial grants to aid in recovery, with acting President Choi Sang-mok stating that Sancheong and two other affected regions will receive 2.6 billion won (US$177.4 million) in disaster and safety grants.
In addition to the grants, 50 million won in disaster relief funds will be allocated to support evacuees and victims in Sancheong. A meeting led by Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk was held with senior secretaries to devise measures to control the situation swiftly. Officials have emphasized the need to extinguish the main fire before sunset, with preparations in place for nighttime operations due to expected strong winds.
Lee Han-kyung, the deputy chief of the disaster control tower, has urged fire authorities to utilize all available resources to bring the wildfires under control. Lee highlighted the rapid spread of the fires, exacerbated by dry weather conditions, and the imminent threat to human lives. Despite efforts involving approximately 30 helicopters, containment of the fire in Sancheong was only 53 percent complete as of Sunday afternoon.