The monstrous wildfire that engulfed North Gyeongsang Province has put the scientific community on alert. Some research facilities in the Andong cannabis regulation free zone suffered damage due to the fire, and government-funded research institutes with experimental facilities in Andong or Yeongcheon, near the wildfire damage area, are closely monitoring the situation.
The wildfire that began in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, on 22nd has spread to Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok. Some scientific research facilities in the area have also been confirmed to have suffered damage.
Some cultivation facilities in the Andong cannabis regulation free zone suffered direct damage from the wildfire. Cannabidiol (CBD), a component of cannabis that does not cause hallucinations, is used in pharmaceuticals to alleviate pain, anxiety, and inflammation. The cultivation facilities of Aipac, which had been conducting research on growing cannabis for medical purposes, were completely burned down.
A representative from Neocambios, which collaborates with Aipac on cannabis research, noted, "The area where Aipac's cultivation facilities were located is experiencing wildfire damage," adding, "Our production facilities nearby are also so close that flames can be seen, so we are considering moving our production equipment."
However, traffic in the Andong area is paralyzed, making even that difficult. The representative explained, "Until yesterday, transportation in the Andong area was challenging, preventing movement, and today we are reviewing plans to move our equipment."
As the wildfire has spread to Yeongdeok, the Nuclear Safety And Security Commission is also closely monitoring any potential issues regarding nuclear power plant safety. North Gyeongsang is currently the largest concentration of operating nuclear power plants in the country, with 13 out of 26. Originally, Chairperson Choi Won-ho was scheduled to visit the site of the construction of a low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Gyeongju on 25th, but the schedule was canceled due to the wildfire. The commission stated, "We are doing our best to ensure that the management of nuclear power plant safety is not affected by the wildfire."
Government-funded research institutes with experimental and research facilities near the wildfire area are also monitoring the situation. In Andong, there is the river experimental center of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology. However, since the river experimental center is adjacent to the Nakdong River, there is little direct damage.
The Bohyun Mountain Observatory of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, which spans Yeongcheon and Cheongsong, is also at risk of suffering damage depending on the progression of the wildfire. An astronomy official stated, "The wind is not blowing toward the observatory, so there has been no direct damage yet," adding, "We are currently just monitoring the situation, including observing flames rising over the ridge on the evening of 26th through cameras."
The official stated, "There has been no direct damage yet, but the photometry data used to measure the brightness of stars is greatly affected due to the dust from the wildfire."