A large forest fire has spread in Yeongnam and other areas for eight days, resulting in significant human casualties. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) reported that as of 9 a.m. on the 28th, the total number of casualties due to the forest fire has reached 65, including 28 fatalities and 37 injuries. The number of injured has increased by 5 compared to the previous day.
According to the CDSCHQ, the area affected by this forest fire is 48,000 hectares, which is about 80% of the area of Seoul (60,520 hectares), the largest ever recorded. A total of 3,481 buildings, including dwellings, warehouses, temples, and factories, have been damaged by this forest fire. Water, electricity, and communication services have been cut off in various places in the fire-affected areas. Over 33,000 nearby residents were evacuated urgently, and more than 8,000 are still staying in shelters.
In the forest fire areas, including Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province, about 1 mm of rain fell the previous day. The Korea Forest Service and fire authorities are focusing all their efforts on firefighting before the wet ground dries. Currently, more than 6,900 personnel, 126 helicopters, and over 930 pieces of equipment have been deployed. However, strong winds of 20 m per second are expected in the afternoon, raising concerns about the spread of embers. The CDSCHQ noted, "The weather will remain dry until the end of April, allowing for the possibility of repeated forest fires," and emphasized the need for preparation, stating that if typhoon-level winds carry embers away, they could easily cross firebreaks such as dams and rivers.
From the 21st until this day, forest fires have occurred in areas such as Sancheong, Hadong, and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong, Andong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province, Muju in North Jeolla Province, Ulju in Ulsan, and Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province. Fire suppression has been completed in Muju, Gimhae, Okcheon, and Ulju. The fire extinguishing rates in the remaining areas are as follows: Yeongdeok (65%), Yeongyang (76%), Andong (85%), Sancheong and Hadong (86%), Cheongsong (89%), and Uiseong (95%).