On the 21st, wildfires that began in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, are spreading simultaneously across the country. The fire continues to spread through the wind overnight, making it difficult for helicopters to be deployed. An area equivalent to 1,336 soccer fields has burned overnight alone.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (Central Headquarters) of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of 6 a.m. on the 24th, a total of 8,732 hectares of forest have burned, which is equivalent to 12,230 soccer fields.
The area affected by the wildfires is expanding at night. An additional 954 hectares were burned just that morning. The area reported by the Central Headquarters at 9 p.m. the previous day was 7,778.61 hectares.
According to the Central Headquarters, the human cost of the wildfires has been provisionally tallied at 13 people (4 dead, 5 seriously injured, and 4 slightly injured). The casualties include 9 firefighters from DAEWON, 3 public officials including firefighter personnel, and 1 resident. The number of those slightly injured has increased by 3 since the previous day. Furthermore, 162 buildings, including dwellings, warehouses, temples, and factories, have been damaged by the wildfires. A total of 2,742 residents have evacuated. Of these, 689 have returned home, while the rest remain in temporary shelters.
Wildfires occurred starting from Sancheong in South Gyeongsang Province on the 21st, followed by Uiseong and Uljin in North Gyeongsang Province on the 22nd, and Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province on the 23rd. The firefighting rate by region is as follows: Uiseong (65%), Sancheong (70%), Uljin (69%), and Gimhae (96%). The firefighting in Okcheon was completed the previous day. The Korea Forest Service and fire authorities are engaged in firefighting operations, deploying personnel, helicopters, and equipment. However, due to the extensive area of the wildfires, along with dry weather and strong winds, extinguishing the fires proves challenging.