SEOUL, April 07 (AJP) - A wildfire broke out Monday in a forested area of Hadong, southern Korea, reigniting concerns in a region that was heavily affected by a major blaze just weeks ago.
According to the Korea Forest Service, the fire began around 12:05 p.m. on a mountain, in Hadong some 285 kilometers (177 miles) south of Seoul. The wildfire erupted about 3 kilometers from the site of a large blaze that scorched nearby hillsides late last month.
A total of 11 helicopters and 105 personnel were mobilized to the site. Residents in surrounding villages were advised to evacuate to designated shelters. Among the affected was a man in his 70s who sustained burns to both hands while attempting to extinguish the fire on his own. Authorities suspect that a brush cutter may have sparked the blaze. The emergency headquarters will launch a full investigation, once the fire is under control.
Fueled by strong winds and dry climates, the southern parts of South Korea were engulfed in flames in late March. More than 48,675 hectares of land were burned to the ground, leaving 31 dead and 45 injured. According to the emergency headquarters, the March wildfire also displaced more than three thousand people who had to flee from their homes empty-handed.
Also on Sunday a helicopter fighting a wildfire in Daegu in southern Korea crashed and the pilot was killed. Recent deaths among frontline responders deployed to fight wildfires have sparked growing calls for stronger safety measures.
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