A wildfire that broke out in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, on the 22nd spread to Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok to the east, driven by strong winds. As the fire rapidly spread, residents who could not evacuate were engulfed in flames, resulting in multiple casualties. Six people died in Yeongdeok County.
According to forest authorities on the 26th, there have been a total of 15 fatalities from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the same day, with 2 people in Andong City, 3 in Cheongsong County, 4 in Yeongyang County, and 6 in Yeongdeok County. Andong City is located to the north and east of Uiseong County, while Cheongsong County and Yeongdeok County are to the east. Yeongyang County is to the north of Cheongsong County and Yeongdeok County. The east of Yeongdeok County faces the East Sea. The damage has been ongoing since the previous day due to the strong westerly winds.
The deceased were found on roads, in dwelling yards, and other locations. Among the deceased in Yeongdeok County, three were residents of a nursing home in Maejeong-ri. These six residents and staff members tried to escape the wildfire around 9 p.m. the previous day, but their vehicle was engulfed in flames and exploded, resulting in the loss of three lives. Additionally, two people burned to death in Maejeong 1-ri, and one person was buried and died in Chuksan-myeon.
In addition, a bus and two cars caught fire on National Route 7, and the water treatment facility in Jipum also burned. The Yeongdeok water treatment facility lost power. A blackout occurred in the entire Yeongdeok area from 9:06 p.m. the previous day. Electricity supply to public offices was restored at 2 a.m. on the same day. Communications in the Yeongdeok area were cut off from around 10:20 p.m. the previous day until 2 a.m. on the same day.
In Yeongdeok County, 4,345 people have taken refuge in schools and administrative welfare centers. The population of Yeongdeok County was 32,999 as of the end of February, meaning approximately 13.2% have fled.
Four deaths have been reported in Yeongyang County, three of whom are from the same family, individuals in their 50s and 60s. One male who died in a fire around 11:11 p.m. the previous day on the road in Posan-ri, Seokbo-myeon, and two females were confirmed deceased. They were traveling together when their vehicle overturned. Earlier, around 11 p.m., a female's burnt body was discovered on the road in Hwamae-ri, Seokbo-myeon.
Yeongyang County issued an evacuation order to residents in Seokbo-myeon to move to the Yeongyang Community Center around 6:47 p.m. the previous day. This wildfire has displaced over 1,000 individuals in Yeongyang County.
Fortunately, Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and Byeongsan Seowon were not affected by the wildfire. At one point the previous afternoon, the fire came within 10 km of Hahoe Village. Andong City issued an evacuation order to residents in Hahoe Village around 4:55 p.m. the previous day.
In Hahoe Village, 10 fire trucks and about 50 firefighting personnel were on standby to prepare for the spread of the wildfire. Fire authorities dispatched eight pieces of equipment, including water cannons that can release large volumes of water at once, and 27 personnel to Hahoe Village. Firefighters at Byeongsan Seowon sprayed water around the area in advance around 10 p.m. the previous day to prevent damage from the wildfire. In addition, four fire trucks were prepared to spray water overnight in case of emergency.
The Ministry of Justice transported around 500 inmates from the Northern Gyeongbuk Correctional Facility (formerly Cheongsong Prison) to correctional facilities under the Daegu Regional Correctional Office overnight in preparation for the wildfire. The inmates were moved using transport buses, and there were no reports of escapes or other unexpected situations.
Fire authorities, at around the time of sunrise at 6:30 a.m., began wildfire extinguishing operations in Uiseong, Andong, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok in coordination with local governments. However, due to adverse weather conditions, there is concern that the wildfire may spread further. As of 6 a.m., a dry weather advisory was in place across the entire Gyeongbuk region, with strong winds expected to reach around 20 m/s in the afternoon.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the area affected by the wildfire in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, is estimated to be 15,185 hectares. As of 8 p.m. the previous day, the remaining fire line was 87 km, and the extinguishing rate was 68%.
The remaining fire line of the mountain fire in Sancheong, Gyeongbuk, is 12.5 km with an extinguishing rate of 80%. The affected area is 1,685 hectares. This wildfire has resulted in 4 deaths and 5 serious injuries, in addition to 5 minor injuries, totaling 14 fatalities. The extinguishing rate of the wildfire in Onyang, Uljin is 92%, while the extinguishing rate in Unyang, Uljin is 98%.
The wildfire that broke out around 7:16 p.m. the previous day in Mulyam-myeon, Bonghwa County, was brought under control after firefighting efforts throughout the night, extinguished approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes later. Fire authorities deployed 33 firefighting vehicles and 397 personnel for the operations, successfully capturing the main blaze around 6 a.m. on the same day. The affected area is estimated to be about 9.5 hectares.