South Korea wildfires | Photo: AFP
Yeongdeok: Overnight rain has helped to contain some of South Korea’s worst-ever wildfires, authorities said on Friday, as the death toll from the blazes, which have raged for nearly a week, reached 28.
More than a dozen fires have swept through large areas in the country’s southeast, destroying an ancient temple and forcing around 37,000 people to evacuate. The fires blocked roads and knocked out communication lines, causing panic among residents as fireballs fell on cars stuck in traffic jams.
The flames have been fanned by strong winds and extremely dry conditions, with the region experiencing below-average rainfall for months. South Korea recorded its hottest year on record in 2024, which contributed to the severity of the fires.
However, on Thursday night, rain fell in the affected areas, aiding firefighters in containing some of the worst blazes.
“The rain that fell from the afternoon into the early morning aided the firefighting efforts,” Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said.
The rain “reduced the haze, improving visibility, and the cooler temperatures compared to other days create very favourable conditions for firefighting efforts,” he added.
Rising death toll and injuries
South Korea’s interior ministry confirmed that 28 people had died as of Friday morning, with 37 others injured, nine of them seriously.
The fatalities include a pilot in his 70s whose helicopter crashed on Wednesday while trying to contain a fire, along with four firefighters and other workers who were trapped by rapidly advancing flames.
Thousands of homes destroyed
More than 2,240 houses in the region have been destroyed, according to the latest figures. An official said on Thursday that over 35,000 hectares (86,500 acres) of forest have been burned.
The extent of the damage makes this South Korea’s largest-ever wildfire, surpassing an inferno in April 2000 that scorched 23,913 hectares across the east coast.
Historic sites in ruins
The fires have also destroyed several historic sites, including the Gounsa temple complex in Uiseong, which is believed to have been originally built in the 7th century.
Among the damaged structures at the temple are two state-designated “treasures”, one of which is a pavilion built in 1668 that overlooks a stream.
Causes of the fires
Last year was South Korea’s hottest on record. While temperatures in the months before the fires were in line with the country’s 30-year average, the affected region had been experiencing unusually dry weather with below-average rainfall.
According to the interior ministry, the wildfires were accidentally started by a grave visitor and “sparks from a brush cutter”.
Climate change and rising wildfire risk
Kimberley Simpson, a fellow in nature-based climate solutions at the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences, drew comparisons between the South Korean wildfires and the devastating California wildfires in January.
“Both were preceded by unusually warm, dry conditions that left vegetation highly flammable, and both were intensified by strong winds that spread the flames and hampered firefighting efforts,” she said.
“Only three months into 2025, we’ve already witnessed record-breaking wildfire activity in multiple regions.
“As climate change drives rising temperatures and alters rainfall patterns, the conditions that give rise to these devastating fires are becoming more frequent.”
AFP
Subscribe to our Newsletter
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
.jpg?$p=9ae73c4&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=0f59c5b&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=0f59c5b&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=8a7b7b1&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
