South Korea is battling its worst wildfires ever, as firefighters struggle to contain massive blazes in the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang.
The wildfires, which started last Friday, have already claimed 26 lives and left another 30 people injured. Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes, and the destruction continues to spread, reports said.
Since the wildfires began, around 36,000 hectares of forest have been burned. This is nearly 13,000 hectares more than the previous worst wildfires in 2000, which destroyed nearly 24,000 hectares along the country’s east coast.
As of Thursday, about 37,000 people have been displaced, with 29,911 of them living in the Uiseong and Andong areas of North Gyeongsang. Many of those affected are elderly people, including patients in nursing homes. The government is working hard to provide care and support for them.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has ordered government officials to stay in North Gyeongsang and oversee the relief efforts until the fires are controlled. “It is worrying that many of the victims are senior citizens, including patients at nursing hospitals,” he said.
South Korea is experiencing its worst wildfires on record. 24 people are dead and thousands have been evacuated. A number of cultural treasures, particularly Buddhist temples, have been completely destroyed, including Gounsa, a temple built in the 7th century pic.twitter.com/buQZeYLjQZ
— 박주현 (@hermit_hwarang) March 26, 2025
“Please personally take care of the victims’ health and safety on the ground and activate an efficient support system so that the wildfire-extinguishing personnel and volunteer workers do not burn out,” Han said.
Firefighting teams, including helicopters, fire trucks, and personnel, resumed efforts early Thursday morning to control the wildfires. The fire started in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the national capital, and spread quickly due to strong winds. Some rain is expected to fall in the area, which could help the firefighting efforts.
The wildfires have been especially devastating in Andong, a city known for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Hahoe Folk Village. The fires have claimed 21 lives in North Gyeongsang, including four in Andong and eight in Yeongdeok County.
The fires in Andong are showing signs of easing, but the situation remains serious. In some parts of the city, water and power have been cut off for days. Authorities are providing bottled water and other supplies to residents. Nearly 2,500 homes in Andong lost power, and 177 homes are still without electricity.
The wildfires have also damaged essential infrastructure. In Yeongdeok, a water purification plant burned down, and a power substation was knocked out, leaving many areas without power. Communication services were also down for a while before being restored.
So far, over 33,000 people have been displaced across the province, and nearly 2,500 homes have been damaged. Rescue efforts continue, and South Koreans are hopeful that the wildfires will soon be under control.
The government, firefighters, and volunteers are working around the clock to battle the fires, support those affected, and restore order to the devastated areas. The people of South Korea are showing incredible resilience in the face of this disaster.
