In the city of Andong, located in southeastern South Korea, officials issued an emergency evacuation alert on Tuesday as wildfires continued to ravage the southern regions, posing significant threats to life and property. Thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes as the fierce blazes, which began last week, persisted, claiming numerous structures, including a historic 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple.
Battling at least nine separate wildfires across the country, around 3,700 firefighters were deployed as of Tuesday afternoon. The fires, exacerbated by dry winds, have consumed more than 36,300 acres over the past five days. In Andong and the nearby town of Uiseong, residents from several villages and those situated near Andong University were urged to evacuate to safer locations or seek refuge in temporary shelters, such as schools and gyms. The fires in Uiseong, fanned by strong winds, have moved toward Andong’s historical village of Pungcheon, placing the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Hahoe folk village, at risk.
Tragically, the wildfire in Uiseong has already destroyed Gounsa, a Buddhist temple built in the 7th century. Although no injuries were reported, some national treasures, including a valuable stone Buddha statue, were successfully evacuated before the fire reached the temple’s main wooden structures. Meanwhile, the fire’s expansion threatened the coastal town of Yeongdeok, leading to road closures and the evacuation of residents from at least four villages. Although there were reports that inmates were being relocated from a prison in nearby Cheongsong county, officials from the Justice Ministry have not yet confirmed these claims.
South Korea’s firefighting efforts in the Uiseong and Andong regions involved the usage of 76 helicopters and 530 vehicles, with the operation reportedly 70% contained by Tuesday evening, according to the Korea Forest Service. In response to the escalating situation, the wildfire warning was raised to the highest “serious” level nationwide, mandating local authorities to enhance emergency response, increase restrictions on forest and park entries, and advising military units to cease live-fire exercises.
Despite earlier successes in extinguishing some of the larger wildfires in the southern areas, such as Uiseong, Sancheong, and Ulsan city, ongoing dry and windy conditions present new challenges. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that four firefighters and government workers tragically lost their lives in Sancheong on Saturday as they were trapped by rapidly advancing flames. Additionally, at least 11 individuals have suffered injuries since the fires began last Friday.
In recognition of the devastation, the national government designated the heavily impacted southeastern regions as disaster zones, aiming to streamline resources and recovery efforts. Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, overseeing as the country’s acting leader after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, emphasized an unwavering commitment to controlling the wildfires. During a government meeting on Tuesday, he strongly urged public awareness due to the persistent dry conditions.
Investigations suggest that human activities may have contributed to several of the wildfires, with potential causes including the improper handling of fire during grass clearing at family tombs or sparks from welding activities. Enforcing preventive measures and raising awareness might prove vital in mitigating future incidents.