South Korea Battles Wildfires: Firefighters and Public Servant Dead, Disaster Zones Declared

At least three firefighters and one public servant died in South Korea on Saturday as over 20 wildfires spread across the country. The firefighters were attempting to control a fire in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, approximately 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The fire, which started on Friday, had consumed 500 hectares by Saturday evening. Nearly 1,600 firefighters, 35 helicopters, and numerous vehicles were deployed; however, only 35% of the fire was contained due to mountainous terrain and strong winds. Over 200 residents from 15 villages were evacuated. Acting President Choi Sang-mok instructed agencies to mobilize all available resources to extinguish the fires. North and South Gyeongsang provinces and the city of Ulsan were declared disaster zones. Other central and southern provinces also experienced wildfires. The Korea Forest Service issued its highest-level fire warning in 12 locations, including North and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan, and Daejeon. Highway sections in southeastern South Korea, including the Ulsan-Busan route, were closed due to the fires.