Wildfires in South Korea have resulted in at least 18 fatalities and significant injuries, according to acting president Han Duck-soo. The blazes, which have spread rapidly due to prolonged drought and dry winds, prompted the government to raise the crisis alert to its highest level. Thousands of firefighters are battling the flames, with conventional firefighting methods proving insufficient due to chaotic weather conditions. Evacuations are ongoing, and critical sites such as the Hahoe Folk Village are under threat. The situation represents a full-scale national emergency, with impacts on both individuals and infrastructure.
"The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house," Kwon So-han, a 79-year-old resident of Andong told AFP. "Those who haven't experienced it won't know how terrifying it is."
Han told an emergency safety and disaster meeting that the blazes were "developing in a way that is exceeding both existing prediction models and earlier expectations."
Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze. However, Han acknowledged that "constantly shifting wind directions and ongoing dry weather advisories have revealed the limitations of conventional firefighting methods."
This is a full-scale national response," the acting president said, adding that the government has raised the crisis alert to its highest level.
Collection
[
|
...
]