A wildfire that started in Uiseong County, Gyeongbuk, has spread to Andong City, Cheongsong County, Yeongyang County, and Yeongdeok County due to strong winds, and the forestry authorities have stated that the affected area has expanded to the point where it could not be estimated.
A Forestry Agency official noted during a briefing held on the 26th in front of the Integrated Command Center for Forests in Uiseong County that "the wildfire that started in Uiseong has impacted the four cities and counties of Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok due to strong winds reaching a maximum speed of 27 m/s from the afternoon until late at night the day before."
He continued, "We conducted aerial reconnaissance to estimate the affected area of the wildfire, but analyzing the numerous video materials right away is difficult." According to the Central Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 5 a.m. that day, the affected area of the wildfire is 15,158 hectares, indicating that the affected area could be even larger.
The forestry authorities reported that wildfires have also been occurring in Bonghwa and Gyeongju within Gyeongbuk, where large flames have been brought under control.
The authorities plan to deploy 87 helicopters, including 20 helicopters from the Forestry Agency, to combat the fire, focusing on densely populated areas. Furthermore, a total of 4,919 personnel will be mobilized, including 751 wildfire suppression personnel and 1,229 firefighters. However, strong winds with gusts exceeding 11 m/s are expected at the fire site in the afternoon, and the maximum temperature during the day is predicted to exceed 20 degrees, which is likely to complicate firefighting efforts.
As of now, the total number of fatalities due to the Gyeongbuk wildfires stands at 18, with 14 in Gyeongbuk and 4 in Gyeongnam. A police official stated, "The main age group of the victims is in their 60s to 70s," adding that "it appears they suffered accidents either because they could not evacuate due to a traffic accident or were unable to escape as the fire spread rapidly."