China News Service, March 11. According to Korean media reports, the South Korean Central Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters estimated on the 11th that as of 6:00 a.m. that day, the forest fire on the east coast that started in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province reached 23,993 hectares. The most serious wildfire since statistics began in 1986.
On March 5, local time, an aerial view of the forest fire area in South Korea.
The fire broke out on the morning of the 4th in the area of Douchon Riye Mountain in the north of Uljin County, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It has been burning for 8 consecutive days, and no casualties have been caused so far.
According to reports, 18,484 hectares were burned in Uljin County, 1,509 hectares in Samcheok City, 1,900 hectares in Gangneung City, and 2,100 hectares in Donghae City.
The total burned area is equivalent to 33,000 football fields and set a new record for the largest burned area (23,794 hectares) set by the East Coast forest fires in 2000.
Wildfires engulfed surrounding houses.
The fire affected 252 households with 390 people, of which 171 households with 254 victims were placed in temporary facilities.
648 facilities were damaged, including 358 residences, 48 agricultural and livestock facilities, 167 factories and warehouses, and 75 religious facilities.
The major fires in Gangneung and Donghae cities have been extinguished, with a 75 percent extinguishment rate in Uljin and Samcheok, the report said.