Wildfires in South Korea wreak ‘unprecedented damage’; kill 24

Andong, South Korea: At least 24 people have been confirmed dead in one of South Korea's worst wildfire outbreaks, officials reported on Wednesday. Multiple intense fires have caused "unprecedented damage" and are threatening two UNESCO-listed sites.

More than a dozen fires broke out over the weekend, spreading across large areas in the southeast. Around 27,000 people were forced to evacuate urgently as the flames blocked roads and knocked out communication lines, causing widespread panic, according to AFP.

The death toll increased to 24 by Wednesday, as strong winds fueled the fires, which devastated neighborhoods and even destroyed an ancient temple. A Ministry of Interior and Safety official stated that 12 others were seriously injured, though these figures were still preliminary, and the death toll could rise.

Most of the victims of the wildfires were residents, but at least three firefighters lost their lives, and a pilot died when his firefighting helicopter crashed in a mountainous region, according to officials.

The interior ministry reported that the wildfires have scorched 17,398 hectares (42,991 acres), with the Uiseong County blaze alone accounting for 87% of the total area affected.

This disaster has already become South Korea's second-largest wildfire, following the 2000 inferno that burned 23,913 hectares along the east coast.

In response to the crisis, the government raised the alert to its highest level and took the rare measure of relocating some inmates from prisons in the affected areas.

The acting president, Han Duck-soo, stated that the wildfires, now burning for the fifth consecutive day, are causing unprecedented damage, according to AFP.

During an emergency safety and disaster meeting, the acting president stated that the wildfires were unfolding in a manner that exceeded both existing prediction models and previous expectations.

In Andong, some evacuees seeking refuge in an elementary school gym reported that they had to flee so abruptly that they were unable to take anything with them.

One evacuee, a 79-year-old resident named Kwon So-han, explained that the wind was so strong that as soon as he received the evacuation order, he immediately left. He also mentioned that the fire spread from the mountain and reached his home.

Authorities had been using helicopters to combat the fires, but all helicopter operations were halted after a crash on Wednesday that resulted in the death of the pilot.

Officials noted that the shifting wind patterns and dry conditions had exposed the limitations of traditional firefighting techniques.

The acting president, Han, described the fires as "the most devastating" in South Korea's history. By Wednesday, two UNESCO-listed sites, the Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon, both popular with tourists, were at risk.

Authorities reported that the fire had advanced to within five kilometres of Hahoe, a village where some homes still have thatched roofs.

Firefighters were also on standby at nearby Byeongsan Seowon, known for its pavilion-style ancient academies.

Thick smoke turned the sky over the village grey, and large pieces of ash were suspended in the air as fire trucks sprayed water and fire retardants in a desperate attempt to save the historic location.