The large forest fire in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, was found to have originated from a mistake made by a visitor to a grave.
According to Uiseong County on the 22nd, the fire that broke out in Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong County, Gyeongbuk, was caused by an accident during the cleanup at a cemetery. After the fire started, the visitor directly reported it to 119.
The fire, which started around 11:24 a.m. on that day, spread eastward due to the westerly winds. It expanded to Andong City, prompting an evacuation order for some residents in Oksan-myeon, Andong City, at 9:29 p.m. the same day. The city advised residents of Baekjari and Geumgok-ri to evacuate to Giaan Elementary School.
A total of 484 residents from Cheolpari in Uiseong-eup and Sinwol-ri in Anpyeong-myeon evacuated to locations such as the Uiseong Indoor Gymnasium. Additionally, 150 patients from a nursing hospital in Uiseong-eup were transferred to Andong National Nursing Hospital.
As of 10 p.m., the Korea Forest Service estimated that the area affected by this forest fire was 418 hectares (ha), with a total fire line of 18.7 km. Despite recording a 50% firefighting rate earlier in the day, the rate has now dropped to 3% as the fire has grown larger.
Due to the forest fire, Korea Expressway Corporation has restricted vehicle operations in both directions of the Cheongju-Yeongdeok Line from the Seo-Uiseong interchange to the Andong junction, as well as at the Andong junction (Sangju direction).
Unhewn Temple, a designated cultural heritage site in Uiseong County, has been completely destroyed by the fire. The temple buildings and associated structures were burned, but before the fire spread, artifacts such as the Amitabha Triad, Birth Buddha, and Guardian Mural were transferred to the Jomun National Museum.
As night fell, forest authorities withdrew firefighting helicopters, while 124 firefighting equipment and 1,355 personnel have been mobilized to contain the blaze.