As the wildfire in the Yeongnam region spreads for the fourth day, firefighting operations resumed on the morning of the 24th. Strong winds of up to 15 meters per second are expected during the day, making it unlikely for the fire to be easily extinguished.
According to the Korea Forest Service, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Ulsan City, the forestry authorities have deployed 59 firefighting helicopters, 2,600 personnel, and 377 pieces of equipment to the wildfire site in Uiseong around 6:30 a.m.
Currently, the wind at the wildfire site is blowing at about 1 meter per second. Strong winds of up to 15 meters per second are expected during the day. The overall firefighting progress in the Uiseong wildfire is currently at 60 percent.
The Korea Electric Power Corporation's Gyeongbuk Headquarters halted power supply to 20 out of 55 transmission towers in the section from the An-gye substation to the Uiseong substation around 1:40 p.m. on the 22nd to prevent wildfire damage. Power supply was resumed around 7:36 p.m. the day before.
The firefighting progress in Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, is at 71 percent. All helicopters withdrew as the sun set the previous day, and authorities deployed more than 1,500 special firefighting personnel overnight to prevent the flames from spreading to dwellings. The Korea Forest Service plans to deploy 36 helicopters, four more than the day before, as soon as the sun rises.
The Korea Forest Service has a plan to extinguish the main fire during the morning, but strong winds are expected to pose difficulties. Maximum winds of 15 meters per second are forecasted for Sancheong on this day. A dry weather warning is also in effect.
The forestry authorities have stationed around 1,000 personnel, including government employees, in nearby villages in Uljin County, Ulsan, overnight to prevent the wildfire from spreading to dwellings. It is expected that the wind will be relatively weak in the morning, so there are plans to concentrate equipment and personnel on firefighting operations before noon. The current firefighting progress is 72 percent.
Authorities resumed firefighting operations by mobilizing 12 helicopters around 6:30 a.m. Approximately 1,700 personnel, including government employees from Ulsan City and Uljin County, will engage in firefighting efforts. Military units, including the Marine Corps, are also expected to provide support.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the wildfire in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, broke out around 11:25 a.m. on the 22nd from a visitor's carelessness on the ridge of a mountain in Gwaesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon. Fueled by strong winds of about 5.6 meters per second, it spread to a point over 20 kilometers to the east. The area affected by the wildfire is estimated to be 6,078 hectares. A total of 94 dwellings were burned, but no casualties were reported.
A wildfire broke out in the Sangcheon-myeon area of Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, around 3:28 p.m. on the 21st. Sparks from a brush cutter are suspected to be the cause, and authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire. The area affected by the wildfire is 1,379 hectares.
Three firefighters from the firefighting team of Changnyeong-gun and one government employee lost their lives, with five seriously injured and one sustaining minor injuries, resulting in a total of 10 casualties. A total of 46 dwellings also suffered property damage from the fire. The Changnyeong-gun will operate a joint incense altar to commemorate the deceased for four days starting today.
The wildfire in Uljin, Ulsan, broke out around 12:12 p.m. on the 22nd in a mountainous area of Unhwa-ri, Onyang-eup, Uljin County. The fire is suspected to have occurred during welding work in a temporary farm shed, and authorities are investigating the exact cause. The area affected by the wildfire is 192 hectares. There were no casualties reported, and property damage is under review.
A wildfire broke out in Hanrim-myeon, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, around 2:03 p.m. on the 22nd during garbage incineration. The area affected by the wildfire is 90 hectares, with a firefighting progress of 96 percent. There were no casualties, and property damage is currently under review.
In Chungbuk, Okcheon, and Yeongdong, a wildfire occurred around 11:53 a.m. on the previous day (23rd). It is presumed that the fire started during farmland burning, and it is now completely extinguished. One individual, suspected to have been burning farmland, sustained minor injuries.