Andong: Authorities have initiated the transfer of approximately 3,500 inmates from correctional facilities in the southeastern counties of Cheongsong and Andong due to rapidly spreading wildfires in the area, the justice ministry announced on Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the justice ministry has started moving the convicts to nearby correctional facilities. Correctional officials have decided on these transfers to ensure the safety of the inmates, although specific details about the relocation process have not been disclosed.
The Gyeongbuk Northern Correctional Facility, which includes three correctional facilities and a rehabilitation center for vocational training, currently houses about 2,700 prisoners. Additionally, the Andong prison accommodates around 800 inmates. The ongoing wildfires in the region have necessitated these precautionary measures to protect the inmates and ensure their safety.