INHABITANTS of a UNESCO-listed village were ordered to evacuate while a historic Buddhist temple was burned to the ground as South Korea scrambled to contain worsening wildfires, which are tearing across the country’s southeast.
More than a dozen different blazes broke out over the weekend, with four people killed as dry windy weather hampered efforts to contain one of the country’s worst-ever fire outbreaks, prompting the government to transfer thousands of prisoners.
Early on Tuesday, acting Interior and Safety Minister Ko Ki-dong said the wildfires had “so far affected approximately 14,694 hectares (36,310 acres) with damage continuing to grow”.
The extent of damage makes the fires collectively the third largest in South Korea’s history. The worst was an April 2000 blaze that scorched 23,913 hectares (59,090 acres) across the east coast.
“Strong winds, dry weather, and haze are hampering firefighting efforts,” Ko told a disaster and safety meeting. The government declared a state of emergency in four regions, citing “the extensive damage caused by simultaneous wildfires” and thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate.
“The wind was so strong that I couldn’t stand still,” Kwon So-han, a 79-year-old resident in Andong told AFP.
“The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house.
“Those who haven’t experienced it won’t know. I could only bring my body.”
AFP
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