A large forest fire that occurred in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, destroyed a highway rest area.
According to Gyeongbuk Province and others on the 27th, the previous day's forest fire spread, burning buildings in both directions of the Cheongsong Rest Area on the Seosan-Yongdeok Expressway. The Yongdeok direction building, which housed eight stores, was completely burned. The Cheongju direction building, with ten stores, lost 50%. There was no fire in the fuel facilities. The simple rest area parking lot in Jeonggok direction towards Yongdeok also had all restrooms and stores burned.
Recovery costs are estimated at 7 billion won for the Yongdeok direction of the Cheongsong Rest Area, 2.8 billion won for the Cheongju direction, and 650 million won for the Jeonggok parking lot. The recovery period is estimated to take at least three months and up to 18 months.
Authorities decided to open temporary restrooms and parking areas after confirming a safety assessment of the facilities, considering that the burned rest area is 53 kilometers away from other rest areas. They also plan to set up temporary operating facilities in consultation with the operating company.
At 10:29 a.m. on the same day, Andong City, Gyeongbuk, issued a disaster text message stating, "A forest fire is spreading from Murung-ri in Namhu-myeon toward the city," urging citizens to evacuate to safe places. The forest fire spread to Gilyan-myeon in Andong City on the 24th.