South Korean authorities are intensifying efforts to control multiple wildfires in the southeast that have been raging for days, with the government deploying dozens of helicopters and thousands of firefighters and soldiers. The fires have already claimed four lives, and officials warn that adverse weather conditions, including high winds and rising temperatures, are complicating containment efforts.
The Korea Forest Service reported that nearly 7,000 hectares of land in Uiseong have been affected, prompting the evacuation of approximately 600 residents. Lim Sang-seop, head of the agency, announced at a press briefing on Monday that 57 firefighting helicopters and over 2,600 personnel, including soldiers, are being mobilized to combat the blazes. While the fire had been partially contained, it continued to burn as of Monday afternoon.
Authorities have issued their highest-level “severe” fire warnings across multiple regions, including North and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan, and Daejeon. In Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang province—about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul—a major wildfire claimed four lives over the weekend. That fire, too, remained partially contained but continued to spread on Monday.
The South Korean government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, citing “the extensive damage caused by simultaneous wildfires across the country.” Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, urging authorities to work tirelessly until the fires are fully extinguished. “It is a truly heartbreaking incident,” he said, pledging to meet with those affected by the disaster later in the day.
The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, echoed the call for swift action, urging authorities to “mobilize all means at their disposal to quickly and safely suppress the fires” while also taking additional measures to prevent future wildfires.
The ongoing wildfires are raising concerns over the role of extreme weather events, with experts highlighting climate change as a contributing factor to the increased frequency and intensity of such disasters. While some weather phenomena, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall, have a well-established link to climate change, other events—including forest fires, droughts, and tropical storms—are influenced by a complex interplay of environmental factors.
As firefighting efforts continue, South Korean authorities remain on high alert, closely monitoring the situation and preparing for additional emergency measures to contain the wildfires and protect residents in the affected areas.
