At least 24 dead as wildfires devastate southern South Korea

A village in Uiseong North Gyeongsang Province is engulfed in flames on March 25 2025 Yonhap — A village in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province is engulfed in flames on March 25, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - Massive wildfires in the southeastern part of the country have killed at least 24 people and injured more than two dozen as of Tuesday, with the death toll expected to rise further as firefighters continue to struggle to contain the blazes that began last week.

The fires first broke out in Sancheong, North Gyeongsang Province last Friday, leaving four dead, and have since rapidly spread to nearby areas including Andong, Cheongsong, Uiseong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, fanned by strong winds and dry weather amid unseasonal early-summer heat.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, most of the victims were elderly people in their 60s and 70s and were found either on roads or at their homes. Authorities believe they either could not evacuate in time or died while fleeing from the engulfing flames.

Rubble piles up due to fires at an ancient temple in Uiseong North Gyeongsang Province on March 26 2025 Yonhap — Rubble piles up at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province on March 26, 2025 as wildfires spread to the region. Yonhap

The uncontrollable fires forced some 27,000 people to evacuate their homes and have already destroyed some national treasures and historical assets including an ancient temple in Uiseong and a 400-year-old pine tree in Yeongdeok.

At one point, the blazes were also threatening to spread to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Hahoe Village, the well-preserved historic clan village, as well as Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy, both in Andong, which hold significant architectural value.

Around 500 inmates at a prison in Cheongsong were also hurriedly transferred to nearby detention facilities, according to the Justice Ministry.

Displaced people rest at a make-shift shelter in Yeongyang North GTeongsang Province on March 26 2025 Yonhap — Displaced people rest at a make-shift shelter in Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang Province on March 26, 2025. Yonhap

With strong winds of up to 25 meters per second worsening the situation, government authorities have been battling to extinguish the fires for almost a week, despite mobilizing thousands of firefighters, along with dozens of helicopters and other emergency equipment.

As the number of casualties rises amid the raging fires that have devastated tens of thousands of hectares of land and forest, criticism is growing over the failure to come up with effective safety measures and proper evacuation plans.

Meanwhile, a helicopter crashed during firefighting operations around 1 p.m. in Uiseong, killing the pilot, according to the Korea Forest Service. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Evelyn Nam evelyneyahh@ajupress.com

At least 24 dead as wildfires devastate southern South Korea

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