On the 24th, as the wildfire spreads around the Jeonggok Rest Area on the Sangju-Yeongdeok Expressway in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, the wildfire suppression team is extinguishing the flames. /Courtesy of Korea Expressway Corporation

A large forest fire that occurred in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, has spread to Andong to the north due to strong winds.

According to forest authorities, the fire expanded to the mountainous area of Hyeonhari in Andong City from Jeomgok-myeon in Uiseong County around 4:10 p.m. on the 24th.

In the process, a fire broke out at the Jeomgok rest area building on the SeoSan-Yeongdeok Expressway heading toward Yeongdeok, which is located between Uiseong and Andong. This rest area only has a restroom and a convenience store. Korea Expressway Corporation blocked traffic in both directions from the northern Uiseong Interchange to the Yeongdeok tollgate starting around 3:35 p.m.

On the 24th, the third day of a large wildfire in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, embers spread to a village in Ipaam-ri, Okseong-myeon, and a fire breaks out. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

Strong winds of more than 10 meters per second are blowing in Uiseong on this day. The maximum temperature during the day reached 25.5 degrees, creating conditions conducive to the spread of the fire. Uiseong County issued evacuation orders not only for residents of Okcheon-myeon and Jeomgok-myeon but also for firefighters who were extinguishing the fire in the mountains as the blaze continued to grow.

Andong City issued an evacuation order around 2:06 p.m. that the Uiseong forest fire was spreading, urging residents of Hyeonhwa 1 and 3 Ri and Hyeonhwa 2 Ri to evacuate to nearby elementary schools. Subsequently, residents of Chumok-ri and Ggomok-ri in Imhae-myeon were advised to evacuate to the community center, while residents of Baekjari and Geumgok-ri in Gilan-myeon were instructed to head to the gymnasium.

Andong City sent a disaster text message to residents around 4:39 p.m., stating, “The Uiseong forest fire has spread to San 291 of Hyeonhari,” asking them to evacuate to the nearest school. As the fire spreads, traffic is restricted in both directions on the local road No. 914 from Gilan Intersection (toward Cheonji Paengmok) to Uiseong Okcheon Intersection.

On the 24th, the wildfire in Uljin, Ulsan, which has been ongoing for three days, is experiencing difficulties in extinguishing the main fire due to strong winds. /Courtesy of News1

The forest fire that broke out in Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan City, has been spreading for the third day due to strong winds and as of 5 p.m. on this day, has spread to about 700 meters from the boundary of Yangsan City.

Lee Seok-yong, head of the Green Landscape Bureau of Ulsan City, noted during a briefing at the fire site, “The forest fire is continuing to spread toward Yangsan across the peak of Daewoonsan,” and added, “With the average winds of 6 to 8 meters per second blowing from the southwest, the flames are approaching Yangsan at an angle from Ulsan.”