175 Wildfires Occur in South Carolina, USA... State of Emergency Declared

A wildfire in South Carolina, USA, has spread, prompting a state of emergency to be declared.

According to the Associated Press, there have been 175 fires in South Carolina so far, with 17㎢ burned as of the 3rd (local time).

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Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina, declared a state of emergency on the 2nd to respond to the wildfires. The statewide burn ban remains in effect. However, there have been no reports of buildings collapsing or injuries caused by the flames so far.

In the Carolina Forest area west of Myrtle Beach in Horry County, a mandatory evacuation order was issued at one point. Fire authorities explained that as firefighting efforts showed progress, residents in this area were allowed to return home late on the afternoon of the 2nd.

Wildfires also broke out in four areas including the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina. By the afternoon of the 2nd, about one-third of the fires had been contained. In Tryon, southwest of Polk County, the flames spread rapidly, leading to an evacuation order for residents.

The National Weather Service warned that dry weather, low humidity, and strong winds have increased the fire risk in these areas.