Yanggu Wildfire 75% Contained... Forestry and Fire Authorities Strive to Extinguish Main Fire Before Sunset

Forest damage approximately 621ha... No casualties or facility losses reported

A wildfire suppression helicopter is conducting firefighting operations. [Korea Forest Service]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] On the afternoon of the 11th, the second day of the wildfire that occurred in Songcheong-ri, Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do, the forestry authorities are putting all their efforts into extinguishing the main fire.

According to the forestry authorities, with a dry weather advisory issued across Gangwon, the Yanggu wildfire showed a 75% containment rate as of 2 PM that day.

There have been no casualties or damage to facilities, and firefighting personnel have been deployed mainly along firebreaks to protect residential areas. The estimated area affected by the wildfire is about 621 hectares (approximately 870 times the size of a soccer field).

The authorities are mobilizing 21 firefighting helicopters (7 forestry, 10 defense, 2 police, 1 national park, 2 fire department) and 1,703 firefighting personnel (384 special wildfire suppression team members, 477 forestry officials, 303 military, 381 fire department, 158 others) for an all-out response.

Although thick haze on the day made visibility poor and firefighting difficult, they plan to use all available equipment and personnel to extinguish the main fire before sunset.

The Yanggu wildfire is believed to have spread when sparks flew while a man in his 50s was burning fallen leaves near Songcheong-ri around 3:40 PM on the previous day (the 10th).

The police are investigating the cause of the fire with the man and have been conducting a detailed inspection at the fire site since the morning of that day.