North Gyeongsang: Firefighters using helicopters and soldiers were struggling to contain the nation's worst-ever wildfires on Thursday that have ravaged the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the death toll from the blazes reaching 27 and another 32 injured.
According to Yonhap News Agency, since last Friday, a wave of wildfires has ravaged the region, and some 36,000 hectares of woodland have been burned, marking a significant increase from the 23,794 hectares damaged by the east coast wildfires in 2000, previously the worst in the nation's history. About 37,000 people have been displaced, including 29,911 in the Uiseong and Andong areas in North Gyeongsang Province.
Earlier in the day, acting President Han Duck-soo instructed acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong to reside in North Gyeongsang Province and oversee relief efforts for wildfire victims until the blazes are brought under control. Han expressed concern over the number of senior citizens affected, including patients at nursing hospitals, and emphasized the need for efficient support systems for wildfire-extinguishing personnel and volunteer workers.
In North Gyeongsang Province, intense efforts have been under way to limit the spread of wildfires. Authorities mobilized helicopters, fire trucks, and firefighting personnel to battle the blaze that began in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Saturday and has rapidly spread due to strong winds. Weather officials anticipated about 5 mm of rain in the province, which could aid firefighting efforts.
The main blaze in Uiseong, moving at speeds of up to 8 kilometers per hour, has spread toward the northeast and reached coastal areas in the East Sea. Meanwhile, another main blaze in Ulju showed signs of being extinguished, according to Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-kyum.
Water supply issues arose in Andong for the second day, prompting the city government to provide bottled water and emergency supplies to residents. Nearly 2,500 houses in the city experienced power outages, with efforts ongoing to restore electricity to 177 of them. The nearby county of Yeongdeok faced similar disruptions, with a water purification plant burning down and a power substation halting operations. Communication services, which were down overnight, were restored early Thursday.