Tragic Wildfires Sweep Through Southeastern South Korea

A devastating series of wildfires in southeastern South Korea has led to the deaths of four individuals, including two firefighters, and left six others injured. Emergency services have responded to approximately 29 fire outbreaks over the weekend, prompting evacuations and significant disruptions.

Over the weekend, southeastern South Korea was besieged by nearly 30 wildfires that have claimed four lives and injured six others, as confirmed by local authorities on Sunday. As per the Interior Ministry, thousands of firefighters and numerous helicopters were deployed to combat the fires, which burned over 4,700 acres, leading to the evacuation of around 1,000 residents.

On Saturday night, government authorities declared a state of disaster in parts of the ravaged region. By Sunday morning, only six of the 29 fires remained active, with most of the blazes being successfully extinguished. The tragic toll included two firefighters among the deceased, all stemming from a significant fire that originated in Sancheong County, located about 160 miles southeast of Seoul.

The catastrophic fire reportedly ignited from a farmer’s lawnmower, with five out of the six injured individuals suffering serious burns and trauma. Furthermore, a separate fire erupted on Saturday morning in a cemetery located in Euiseong County, around 110 miles southeast of the capital, followed by another fire sparked by a garbage incinerator in Gimhae, only about 20 miles inland from Busan.

As of Sunday morning, officials reported that the Sancheong fire was approximately 30 percent contained, while the Euiseong fire had only reached 3 percent containment. Firefighters attribute the rapid spread of the flames to dry and windy weather conditions typical during the March to May period, recognized as some of the driest months in South Korea, as detailed by the Korea Meteorological Administration.