The Yeongdeok wildfire that was extinguished the day before (15th) and revived yesterday morning has not been extinguished for over 30 hours.
As the fire spread rapidly, more than 150 hectares, equivalent to 140 soccer fields, were damaged, and about 900 residents were evacuated.
The forestry authorities have issued the highest level of forest fire response since noon yesterday, and the fire department has also issued a nationwide mobilization order.
It was difficult to access during the night, so last night I focused on building a fire line to prevent the fire from spreading further, and from this morning, 40 helicopters were put in again.
2,200 firefighters were also mobilized.
The strong wind, which reached the instantaneous maximum wind speed of 12 m/s, has now subsided to some extent, and the firefighting work is proceeding smoothly.
The Korea Forest Service said that as of 8 a.m. today, about 50% of the fire had evolved.
There have been no confirmed casualties from this fire.
The military believes that the forest fire started with a spark that occurred when a wind-blown agricultural reflective film touched a telephone pole.
(Photo = provided by the Korea Forest Service, Yonhap News)