Seoul, Korea
CNN
–
South Korea is struggling to contain wildfires that have devastated the country’s southeastern parts of the country after over 20 flames erupted over the weekend, killing four people and forcing thousands to evacuate.
As of Sunday night, around 9,000 firefighters, police, civil servants and 120 helicopters had been dispatched to five areas to fight the fire. By Monday morning, firefighters facing additional challenges in dry, windy conditions had destroyed all but four flames.
Sparks from the lawnmower began the first wildfire. It caught fire on Friday afternoon in Sancheon, Minami Cheongjohong Province, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of the capital Seoul, according to a situation report from the Ministry of Internal Safety.
Yonghap News Agency reported that four civil servants dispatched to combat wildfires have been killed. As of Monday morning, the fire had not been contained and had burned more than 1,464 hectares (more than 3,600 acres), the Ministry of Internal Safety reported.
A wildfire broke out in eusionong, North Yangsan province on Saturday. The Urju area of Ursan city. And South Kyung-san’s Gimyae remained active on Monday.
The Eusiousong fire was torching 6,861 hectares (nearly 17,000 acres) on Monday morning, paying tribute to the grave, according to the report.
More than 2,740 people were forced to evacuate due to the fire, most of whom were in shelters Monday morning. Approximately 162 buildings have been damaged by wildfires, including the temple of Eusiousong.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok ordered the Forest Service to “do everything possible” to “do everything possible” in order to “do everything possible,” according to his office.
The government declared emergency situations in Ulsan city, south and north Yangsan states on Saturday.
In Korea, wildfires are not uncommon, especially when conditions are driest in February, March and April.
