A wildfire that broke out in Okjong-myeon, Hadong-gun, has spread, prompting the issuance of a phase 2 wildfire alert, and forest authorities have begun nighttime extinguishing efforts.
According to the Korea Forest Service, as of 7 p.m. on the 7th, the fire extinguishing rate at the wildfire site in Hoeshin-ri, Okjong-myeon, Hadong-gun, was recorded at 87%.
The forest authorities deployed 36 firefighting helicopters, 72 pieces of equipment, and 753 personnel during the day for extinguishing operations, but were unable to contain the main fire.
As of now, all helicopters that had been deployed to the wildfire site have withdrawn due to sunset.
The Korea Forest Service and others plan to focus efforts on nighttime firefighting, mobilizing 518 personnel.
The affected area of the wildfire is currently about 65.1 hectares (㏊), and the total fire line is approximately 4.6 km. Out of this, about 4 km has been extinguished, leaving approximately 0.6 km of fire line remaining.
Earlier, around 12:05 p.m., a fire broke out on a hillside in Hoeshin-ri, Okjong-myeon, Hadong-gun.
It is reported that the fire started about 3 km away from the location where a wildfire occurred in Sancheong at the end of last month.
The forest authorities issued a phase 1 wildfire alert (estimated damage area of less than 10 to 50 hectares) starting at 1:45 p.m., and a phase 2 wildfire alert (issued when the estimated damage area is less than 50 to 100 hectares) starting at 3:30 p.m.
Currently, a north-northeast wind with a maximum wind speed of 8 m/s is blowing at the wildfire site.
Hadong-gun has advised nearby residents from Hoeshin Village and Yangji Village to evacuate to Okcheon-gwan and Okjong High School.
Currently, 326 nearby residents have evacuated, and among them, 214 have moved to evacuation shelters.
According to the Korea Forest Service, a man in his 70s who was near the site where the wildfire started suffered burns to both hands while trying to extinguish the fire himself and was transported to the hospital.