Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size yesterday from a day earlier, as authorities called the blazes the country’s worst natural fire disaster with at least 28 people killed and historic temples incinerated.
More than 93,900 acres have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires that began in the central Uiseong county, making it the biggest single forest fire in South Korea’s history. The previous record was 59,000 acres 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.
More than 120 helicopters have been deployed in three regions battling the blazes, the safety ministry said. South Korea relies on helicopters to fight forest fires because of its mountainous terrain.
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