24 Dead as South Korea Faces Worst Wildfires in History

At least 24 people have lost their lives as multiple wildfires continue to devastate South Korea’s southeastern region.

Authorities report that most of the victims are in their 60s and 70s, while at least 26 others have sustained injuries—12 of them in critical condition. The raging fires have also forced more than 23,000 residents to evacuate their homes.

Acting President Han Duck-soo described the crisis as “unprecedented,” stating that it is “rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation’s history.”

Among the structures destroyed is the 1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple in Uiseong city. Authorities managed to salvage and relocate many of its cultural relics to safer ground before the temple was consumed by the flames.

The fires first broke out in Sancheong County on Friday afternoon before spreading to Uiseong County, officials said.

Fanned by strong, dry winds, the inferno is now advancing toward neighboring counties, including Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, according to Yonhap news agency.

Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science, described the Uiseong blaze as spreading at an “unimaginable” scale and speed.

In a further tragic turn, a firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountains of Uiseong County just after midday on Wednesday. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

To combat the disaster, thousands of firefighters and around 5,000 military personnel have been deployed, with aerial support also coming from US military helicopters stationed in Korea.