The national crisis alert for wildfire disasters in the eastern coastal areas of Gangwon and Gyeongbuk has been raised to the caution level.
Last May, flames spread along the ridge at the wildfire site in Uljin, Gyeongbuk. Source=Yonhap News
On the 3rd, the Korea Forest Service announced that as of 6 p.m. the previous day, the crisis alert for the region was upgraded from interest to caution.
The crisis alert is divided into four levels: interest, caution, warning, and severe. The areas under the caution level alert include Goseong, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung, Donghae, and Samcheok in Gangwon, and Uljin and Yeongdeok in Gyeongbuk.
The Korea Forest Service assesses that the risk of wildfires has increased due to the ongoing dry weather nationwide and the issuance of a strong wind preliminary warning in the Gangwon region.
Although the eastern coastal areas of Gangwon and Gyeongbuk had a relatively low risk of wildfires due to snowfall last month, most of the snow has melted in areas except for some high mountain regions as the dry weather continues.
Additionally, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a strong wind preliminary warning for the Gangwon region in the early morning of the 3rd. The combination of dryness and strong winds has heightened the wildfire risk.
Furthermore, March is a season when agricultural preparations lead to frequent burning of rice paddies, field edges, agricultural residues, and garbage, which are major causes of wildfires, so special caution is required, the Korea Forest Service emphasizes.
Kang Hye-young, Disaster Control Officer at the Korea Forest Service, said, "With dry weather and strong winds, the risk of wildfires is greater than usual these days," and added, "We urge rural and farming communities to refrain from illegal burning and actively participate in wildfire prevention."
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