A large wildfire has been spreading in Yeongnam and elsewhere for a week, increasing casualties. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCHQ) of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that as of 4 p.m. on the 27th, the number of fatalities from the wildfire has been tentatively counted at 27. There are 32 injuries. The death toll and injuries have increased by 1 and 2, respectively, compared to the morning.
Currently, the wildfire is spreading at a rate faster than a person can run. According to forest authorities, the wildfire is spreading at a speed of 8.2 km per hour, fueled by winds of 27 meters per second. This is the fastest rate recorded for wildfires. Previously, the fastest spreading wildfire was the one in Gangwon's Sokcho and Goseong in 2019, which spread at a rate of 5.2 km per hour.
The area affected by the wildfire is also the worst on record. According to the CDSCHQ, the estimated area of forest damage from this wildfire is 35,810 hectares. This accounts for 60% of the area of Seoul (60,520 hectares). The affected area has exceeded that of the largest recorded wildfire damage in 2000 on the East Coast, which was 23,794 hectares.
Since the 21st until today, wildfires have occurred in areas such as Sangcheong, Hadong, and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province; Uiseong, Andong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province; Ulju in Ulsan; and Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province. The government declared Sangcheong a special disaster zone on the 22nd, Ulju, Uiseong, and Hadong on the 23rd, and Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok today. Special disaster zones will facilitate support for victims and inter-agency measures.