March 27 – Wildfires raging across South Korea have doubled in size since Wednesday, marking the country’s worst natural fire disaster on record, with at least 26 people killed and historic temples reduced to ashes.
More than 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) have been burned or remain ablaze, making the fire in central Uiseong county the largest in South Korea’s history, surpassing the 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) destroyed in a March 2000 fire.
“We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,” Acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting.
The South Korean military has released aviation fuel reserves to keep firefighting helicopters operational as authorities battle the blazes in mountainous southeastern regions. The safety ministry said more than 120 helicopters have been deployed. A helicopter pilot died on Wednesday after crashing while fighting the fires.
Fires that began in Uiseong have spread eastward, nearly reaching the coast, carried by gusty winds and dry conditions. Within 12 hours on Wednesday, flames traveled 51 km (32 miles) to the coastal county of Yeongdeok, according to Won Myung-soo, director of satellite imagery analysis for the national forestry service.
Although the meteorological agency has forecast rain in the southwest, precipitation is expected to be minimal and unlikely to aid firefighting efforts, Korea Forest Service Minister Lim Sang-seop said.
Experts warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally. Climate Central, an independent research group, reported that human-caused climate change has amplified existing dry conditions, turning landscapes into fire fuel.
The wildfires have devastated an area nearly half the size of Singapore, destroying historic temples and homes in North Gyeongsang province’s mountainous forests.
Firefighters are on standby to protect UNESCO World Heritage sites Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Confucian Academy in Andong. The fire could reach these cultural landmarks if it jumps a nearby stream. Hahoe Village is renowned for its traditional Korean houses with thatched roofs, while the Confucian academy dates back over 450 years.
Other historic sites have already suffered severe damage. Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, built in 681, has been largely destroyed. “The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone,” said Deungwoon, head of the temple.
