At least 18 people have been killed in one of South Korea’s worst wildfires, and multiple raging flames have caused “unprecedented damage,” South Korean foreman Han Dak So said Wednesday.
Over dozens of fires broke out over the weekend, scorching a wide area in the southeast, and about 27,000 people were urgently evacuated, and the fire was blocked and knocked down the lines of communication as residents fled in panic.
Overnight on Wednesday, the death toll jumped as wind flames tore through the neighborhood and destroyed ancient temples.
“18 people have died in wildfires,” a safety ministry official told AFP. According to the Ministry of Interior, wildfires have burned 17,398 hectares, with the flames in Uiseong County alone making up 87% of the total.
The government has taken the rare step of raising the crisis warning to the highest level and relocating thousands of prisoners. “The five consecutive wildfires burning have caused unprecedented damage,” Han said.
He told the emergency safety and disaster conference that the flames are “developing in ways that exceed both existing forecast models and previous expectations.”
“The disruption continued as powerlines were cut across several areas and roads were blocked throughout the night,” he added.
MNA/