Initially, fatalities were recorded as South Korea grappled with more than 20 wildfires, one of which was a significant conflagration in the Sancheong county. Authorities urgently requested that all available staff be dispatched to these crisis areas.
At least three firefighters and one public servant lost their lives in South Korea, where over 20 wildfires erupted nationwide on Saturday.
The firefighters were attempting to control a fire in Sancheong County that started on Friday and had spread over 500 hectares (1,200 acres) by Saturday night.
Sancheong, located in South Gyeongsang Province, lies approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Seoul.
Authorities stated that almost 1,600 firefighters, along with 35 helicopters and numerous vehicles, were dispatched to combat the inferno. Nonetheless, owing to the challenging mountainous topography and strong gusts, just 35 percent of the flames had been brought under control.
Over 200 inhabitants across 15 villages received evacuation orders.
Acting president urges all-out efforts
South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok instructed pertinent organizations to “deploy all accessible resources and staff to swiftly put out the blaze,” as stated by his office.
The nation's authorities designated North and South Gyeongsang provinces along with the city of Ulsan as disaster areas.
The Korea Forest Service reported that several other regions in the central and southern provinces were likewise affected by wildfires.
The organization released "extreme" fire alerts at its most critical level across 12 areas, which include North and South Gyeongsang provinces as well as Busan and Daejeon.
The flames led to the shutdown of multiple stretches of highways in the southeast region of the nation, including one that links Ulsan with Busan, which is South Korea’s second biggest metropolis.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Author: Dmytro Hubenko (with AFP, AP, Reuters)
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