Sole
Firefighters are using helicopters to overcome the biggest wildfire ever in North Gyongsang, the southeastern province of South Korea. So far 26 people have died and 30 others have been injured in this fire. According to government data, the forest fire in the region has caused heavy havoc since last Friday and about 36,000 hectares of forests have been gutted.
The fire is affecting about 13,000 hectares of area in 2000 on the east coast. 23,794 hectares of forest was burnt in the fire of that time. Around 37,000 people have become homeless from their homes, including 29,911 people from Uisong and Andong areas of Northern Gyongsang province. Earlier, acting South Korean President Han Duck-Suk ordered caretaker internal minister Ki-Dong to take care of relief work for the affected people until the fire is controlled in North Gyongsang province.
Han said, “It is a matter of great concern that many of the victims are elderly people, including patients from nursing hospitals.” “Please take care of the health and safety of the victims and create an effective support system, so that the fire extinguishers and volunteers can avoid burning exhausted,” he said.
In the Northern Gyongsang province, authorities have resumed efforts to prevent wild fire from spreading. According to the Yonhap news agency, the forest officials started sending helicopters, fire brigade and firefighters at 6:30 am on Saturday to control the fire in Uishong County, about 180 km south-east of Sol. This fire spread quickly due to strong winds. According to weather officials, the northern Gyongsang province is expected to receive about 5 mm of rain. A fire in the province is expected to cause 21 people to die, out of which four people were killed in Endong and eight people died in Yeongdeok County.
