At least 27 people have been killed and dozens injured in South Korea as wildfires continue to rage across the southeast of the country.
Thousands of personnel and more than 100 helicopters have been deployed to battle the fires – which officials have described as the worst in the country’s history.
Historic temples, houses and factories are among the more than 300 buildings and structures that have been destroyed in the fires.
Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said “a small amount” – less than 5 millimetres – of rain was expected in the area on Thursday – not enough to play a meaningful role in extinguishing the wildfires.
A pilot whose helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a blaze and four firefighters and other workers who died after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds are among those who have been killed.
Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Andong, South Korea. Pic: Yonhap via Reuters
A home is surrounded by wildfire in Uiseong, South Korea. Pic: Reuters
Authorities have not disclosed details of the civilian dead, except that many were in their 60s and 70s.
They suspect human error caused several of the wildfires that began last Friday, including cases where people started fires while clearing overgrown grass from family tombs or with sparks during welding work.
The wildfires have burned 35,810 hectares (88,488 acres) of land in the southeast, the government’s disaster response centre said in a report on Thursday.
Observers say it is the worst figure of its kind in South Korea.
Deadly wildfires ravage South Korea
The fires have also injured more than 30 people, destroyed about 320 buildings and structures, and forced more than 24,200 people to evacuate.
As of Thursday morning, the disaster response centre said authorities were mobilising more than 9,000 people and about 120 helicopters to battle the wildfires.
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“Damages are snowballing,” acting president Han Duck-soo said in a televised address on Wednesday.
“There are concerns that we’ll have wildfire damages that we’ve never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities on putting out the wildfires this week.”
Hardest-hit areas are Andong city and it neighbouring counties Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan.
Last night, strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in Andong to order evacuations, including in Hahoe Folk Village – a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around in the 14th-15th centuries.
Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jiri Mountain as another fire spread closer.
A bell is seen among the debris of the destroyed Gounsa Temple site in Uiseong. Pic: AP
Officials said earlier this week that firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in key areas, but wind and dry conditions allowed them to spread again.
In Uiseong, about 20 of the 30 structures at the Gounsa temple complex, which was said to be originally built in the 7th century, were completely burned down. Among them were two state-designated “treasures” – a pavilion-shaped building erected overlooking a stream in 1668, and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king.
The Korea Forest Service has raised its wildfire warning to the highest level, requiring local governments to assign more workers to emergency response, tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks, and recommend that military units withhold live-fire exercises.
