Lee Dowoon Spokesperson Delivers Written Briefing
President Yoon: "Relevant Ministries Also Provide Support with Helicopters and Personnel"
President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed on the 2nd to "mobilize all available resources centered on the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency to fully focus on wildfire suppression and prevention" in response to multiple wildfires occurring in areas such as Inwangsan Mountain in Seoul and Hongseong, Chungnam.
Presidential Office spokesperson Lee Do-woon conveyed that President Yoon gave these instructions regarding the wildfires that broke out amid continued dry weather nationwide that afternoon.
President Yoon also emphasized, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of National Defense, and other related ministries have been instructed to activate a cooperative system to ensure that available resources such as helicopters and personnel from affiliated agencies can be supported."
At around 11 a.m. that day, a fire broke out on a mountain in Seobu-myeon, Hongseong County. The forestry authorities issued a Level 2 wildfire alert at 12:40 p.m., then upgraded it to Level 3 around 1:20 p.m.
A Level 3 wildfire alert is issued by the head of the Korea Forest Service when the expected damage area is 100 hectares or more, or when the suppression time is expected to exceed 24 hours. Around 1 p.m., Hongseong County sent a disaster text message stating, "Residents of Sin-ri, Geocha, Yanggok, Jangdong, Eosa, Namdang, and Songchon in Seobu-myeon, Hongseong County, should evacuate to nearby village halls or outdoors."
At around 11:53 a.m. on the 8th ridge of Inwangsan Mountain in Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, a fire broke out, and the fire authorities issued a Level 2 response alert around 12:51 p.m. and are currently conducting suppression operations.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and fire authorities urged through an emergency disaster text message that "the Inwangsan wildfire is spreading to surrounding areas, so residents and hikers should evacuate quickly."
Seodaemun District Office also sent an emergency disaster text message stating, "The wildfire is spreading beyond Gichabawi Rock on Inwangsan Mountain, so residents of Gaemi Village and nearby apartments in Hongje-dong should evacuate promptly."
Meanwhile, according to the relevant authorities, as of 1:45 p.m. that day, 25 wildfires occurred nationwide, with 10 still being suppressed, 11 extinguished, and 4 ended due to causes other than wildfires.
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