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A wildfire that started in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam during the daytime yesterday (28th) spread to Goryeong, North Gyeongsang, with strong winds.
Nearby residents have been evacuated, and forestry authorities have issued the highest level of alert and are working all night to extinguish the fire.
Reporter Kang Min-woo, tell us about the situation.
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A forest fire that started in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do around 2:10 pm yesterday, spread to Goryeong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do with a strong southwest wind.
Earlier, the forestry authorities issued a third stage of forest fire response from 5:30 pm.
This is the highest level of action taken when the estimated damage area is over 100 hectares and the average wind speed is 10 m.
The national forest fire warning has also been raised to a serious level.
The Fire Department also issued the National Fire Mobilization Ordinance No. 1 and put fire-fighting equipment in five nearby local governments, including Daegu and Ulsan.
The forestry authorities dispatched 29 helicopters to extinguish the fire, but it was difficult due to strong winds and dry weather.
As the sun went down, the fire-fighting helicopter withdrew, and 15 elite manpower and equipment to extinguish the wildfire overnight were put in to build a defense line to prevent the fire from spreading to private homes.
It is known that there have been no casualties so far, but about 230 residents near the wildfire area have been evacuated and are staying at the village hall, and about 60 residents of nursing homes and nursing homes have also completed the evacuation by fire-fighting buses.
The Korea Forest Service said that it would focus on preventing the spread of wildfires at night and aim to extinguish the big fire by noon today by putting in 47 firefighting helicopters as soon as the sun is bright.
Forestry and forestry authorities estimate that the fire started in a private house in Noyang-ri, Yulgok-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and spread.