Wildfires Occur One After Another in Hadong, Gyeongnam; Andong and Yecheon, Gyeongbuk; and Yeongdong, Chungbuk
Evacuation Orders Issued Due to Uncontrollable Flames, Some Roads Also Closed
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] On the 21st, when warm spring weather arrived after a long time, large wildfires broke out across the country, causing firefighting authorities to struggle with containment.
At around 2:41 PM that day, a fire broke out at an altitude of 250m on Gujaebong in Mijeom-ri, Agyang-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, and has been burning for five hours.
Forest authorities and Hadong-gun mobilized a total of 14 helicopters and about 600 personnel including officials and firefighters to suppress the fire.
Currently, helicopter deployment has been suspended as the sun has set, and pumps and other equipment have been deployed to establish a firebreak to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby mountains.
A resident evacuation order was issued around 4 PM for Meokjeom Village near the foothills.
So far, there have been no casualties, and the flames are reported to be moving toward the summit.
A Hadong-gun official said, "It seems that it will take a considerable amount of time to extinguish the fire," adding, "We expect to deploy helicopters again at dawn tomorrow."
Then, at around 3:20 PM, a fire broke out in the foothills of Mangcheon-ri, Imdong-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongbuk.
Forest and firefighting authorities are working to extinguish the fire using helicopters and fire trucks, but as the wildfire spread to the surrounding area, Response Level 2 was issued at 5:48 PM.
Accordingly, firefighting authorities from Gyeongnam, Daegu, Ulsan, Changwon, Chungnam, Daejeon, and Busan have mobilized 49 fire trucks and 122 personnel to fight the fire on site.
Andong-si and the Korea Forest Service also mobilized about 780 personnel, 14 helicopters, and 20 fire trucks.
However, the terrain where the fire is spreading is rugged, there are many dry trees, and the wind is blowing, making it difficult for forest and firefighting authorities to contain the fire.
At one point, the fire spread to near residential areas and the Gyeongbuk Fire Academy, but it did not lead to major damage.
As of 8 PM, the flames remain unextinguished, forming a belt on the mountain. The containment rate is about 20%.
The city has instructed residents of Jungpyeong-ri, Imdong-myeon to evacuate to Sugok-ri and Gocheon-ri, and is controlling some roads including National Route 34 near Sugokgyo Bridge close to the Imdong-myeon office.
A city official said, "Users of National Route 34 must detour via expressways or other roads," adding, "The road in front of the Gyeongbuk Independence Movement Memorial Hall is also closed."
At around 4:12 PM, a fire broke out in the foothills of Jeunggeori, Gamcheon-myeon, Yecheon-gun.
Forest and firefighting authorities deployed 19 fire trucks and 3 helicopters and issued Response Level 1.
The wildfire spread with the wind, prompting Yecheon-gun to order nearby residents to evacuate.
Yeongju-si also ordered residents of Galsan-ri and Hwagi-ri, Jangsu-myeon, near the wildfire site, to evacuate.
Also, at around 3:26 PM, a fire broke out in the foothills of Okjeon-ri, Maegok-myeon, Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk, and firefighting authorities have been working to extinguish it for over four hours.
Fortunately, there have been no casualties reported.
Forest and firefighting authorities mobilized 6 helicopters, 20 vehicles, and about 90 personnel to fight the fire.
Firefighting authorities discovered traces of burning in a nearby field and are investigating the exact cause and damage scale, considering the fire was caused by flying embers.
A firefighting official said, "The large fire has been brought under control with about 75% containment," but added, "However, flying embers carried by the wind are making complete extinguishment difficult."
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