Source: Africa Publicity
South Korea is grappling with an unprecedented wildfire crisis, with at least 18 people killed and 19 injured as fires continue to ravage the country’s southeast. Acting President Han Duck-soo described the situation as “rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation’s history“.
The wildfires, which have already destroyed 17,000 hectares of forest, have forced the evacuation of over 23,000 people and damaged several cultural heritage sites, including a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple. A firefighting helicopter also crashed in the mountains of Uiseong county, with authorities investigating the cause.
Thousands of firefighters, 5,000 military personnel, and helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea have been deployed to contain the multiple blazes. However, strong winds continue to hamper efforts, with Acting President Han expressing concern about the lack of rain to help extinguish the flames.
“We were desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames,” Han said. “This level of wildfire damage is unlike anything we’ve experienced before.”
The government has promised to review its response to the crisis and improve prevention strategies for the future. “Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires tremendous resources and puts precious lives in danger,” Han emphasized.
South Korea has experienced drier-than-normal conditions, with less rainfall than average, contributing to the spread of the wildfires. The government has vowed to strengthen enforcement against illegal burning and crack down on individual carelessness.
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