South Korea says fires are the worst in its history, the number of deaths increased to 26 | Wildlife news
Firefighters are struggling to contain fires, which continue to grow rapidly in size, stimulated by strong winds and dry conditions.
The South Korean authorities have declared continuous wildlife the worst that has ever hit the ground, as the number of deaths increased again, and the affected area doubled in size.
Fire – which started late on Friday at Sancheong County in the Province of Northern Gyeongsang – have now killed at least 26 people, local authorities said on Thursday.
About 81,500 hectares (33,000 hectares) of the country were burned, more than twice as much as the area reported on Wednesday, and far beyond the worst fire in South Korea, in March 2000, which burned 59,000 hectares (24,000 hectares) of the country.
“We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous victims for the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,” said the acting President of South Korea Han Duck-Soo at a meeting of the Government’s response, Reuters news agency reports.
South Korea relied on a fleet of more than 120 helicopters to fight fires in several regions – including Gyeongbuk, Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Sancheong – which expanded to the mountainous terrain on the southeast of the country, encouraged strong, dry winds.
The meteorological agency of South Korea forecasts rain, but it is expected that the precipitation will be less than 5 mm in most affected areas.
“The amount of rain will be small, so it does not look like there will be a great help in trying to extinguish the fire,” said the Minister of Forest Service in Korea Lim Sang Sop.
Government officials said that the human error was probably caused by fires, citing the potential triggers created by a man, including the use of fire to clear the patterns of grass in family graves or sparks from welding equipment.
Many affected areas have also experienced only half of the average rain this season, the authorities said.
Four firefighters and government workers were killed in Sancheong County, on Saturday, the Southern Province of Gyeongsang, after becoming trapped by a fast flame. The pilot also died when his helicopter crashed during the effort to retain a fire in the Uiseond mountain area.
Near 30,000 inhabitants were forced to evacuate their homes as fires penetrated through the neighborhood and firefighters strive to contain several blouses at the same time.
Flame They also engulfed half of 30 buildings that make up the Buddhist temple of Gouns in Uiseong County. Originally built in the seventh century, two “mild” buildings were damaged among the buildings in Gouns, a valued State-structure in the form of a pavilion erected in 1668 and the structure of the Joseon dynasty built in 1904.
Authorities also issued an emergency warning for the World Heritage at UNESCO HAHOE FOLK Village in the Andong district as the flame approaches.
