Catastrophic Wildfires Claim 24 Lives in South Korea, Sparking Nationwide Emergency Response

At least 24 people have lost their lives as a series of wildfires ravage the southeastern region of South Korea. Authorities report that most victims are elderly, aged in their 60s and 70s, with approximately 26 others injured—12 of whom are in critical condition. The catastrophic fires have forced over 23,000 residents to evacuate their homes.

Describing the situation as “unprecedented,” acting President Han Duck-soo stated that the ongoing crisis is “rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation’s history.” The flames have devastated the historic Gounsa temple in Uiseong city, a 1,300-year-old site where many cultural relics were urgently relocated to safety.

The wildfires ignited in Sancheong county on Friday afternoon and quickly spread to Uiseong county. Fueled by strong, dry winds, the fires are advancing into neighboring counties including Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, as reported by Yonhap news agency. Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science, described the Uiseong blaze as spreading at an “unimaginable” scale and speed.

In a tragic incident, a firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountains of Uiseong county just after midday on Wednesday, prompting an investigation into the cause. Thousands of firefighters, along with around 5,000 military personnel and helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea, have been deployed to combat the raging blazes.

The national fire agency elevated the crisis to the highest response level on Tuesday, marking the first time this year such an alert has been issued. While wildfires are relatively rare in South Korea, the current situation has already resulted in 24 fatalities, making it the deadliest in the country’s history. Approximately 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of forest have been destroyed, ranking the fires among the largest in the nation’s history.

The Gounsa temple, built in 618 AD, was one of the largest temples in the province and a national treasure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). A 68-year-old monk expressed his devastation over the destruction, saying, “We will do our best to restore the function of the temple,” adding that he could hardly comprehend such a tragedy.

Eyewitness accounts reflect the chaos; truck driver Lee Seung-joo described the scene as “literal hell,” while evacuee Kwon So-han, 79, recounted how “strong winds” drove the fire toward her home from the mountains.

Acting President Han emphasized that all available personnel and resources have been mobilized, though strong winds continue to hinder firefighting efforts. “We were desperately hoping for rain today or tomorrow to help extinguish the flames,” Han said. Unfortunately, forecasts indicate little to no rain in the immediate future, with only a slight chance of precipitation expected on Thursday.

Han pledged a thorough review of the government’s wildfire response once the crisis is under control and highlighted plans to improve prevention strategies. “Once a wildfire starts, extinguishing it requires tremendous resources and puts precious lives in danger,” he noted.

This year, South Korea has experienced unusually dry conditions, with 244 wildfires recorded—2.4 times more than the same period last year. The government has vowed to strengthen enforcement against illegal burning, a primary cause of wildfires, and to address individual carelessness in order to prevent future tragedies.