On the 22nd at 3:30 PM, the Korea Forest Service raised the national wildfire disaster crisis alert to the 'Severe' level for the Chungcheong, Honam, and Yeongnam regions. This decision came as 16 additional wildfires broke out nationwide on the same day, while the wildfire that started on the 21st in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, had not yet been extinguished.
In areas where the wildfire crisis alert is at the Severe level, at least one-quarter of the affiliated public officials and half of the public service personnel are deployed and on standby. Additionally, military unit firing exercises are suspended, and entry permits to restricted mountain areas are halted.
The crisis alert for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon regions was also raised from 'Caution' to 'Warning.' In these Warning areas, at least one-sixth of the affiliated public officials and one-third of the public service personnel must be deployed and on standby.
Lee Yong-kwon, the Forest Disaster Control Officer, stated, "Due to the hot and dry weather, wildfires are occurring frequently nationwide, and strong winds increase the risk of these fires spreading into large-scale wildfires." He added, "The Korea Forest Service will maintain close cooperation with related agencies such as local governments, fire departments, military units, police, and the Korea Meteorological Administration, and will mobilize all available resources to protect forests and safeguard the lives and property of the public."
Meanwhile, as the large wildfire in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, which started the previous afternoon, faces difficulties in containment due to strong winds, additional evacuation orders have been issued for nearby villages.
At around 3 PM on the same day, Sancheong County sent disaster safety text messages urging residents and hikers in eight villages near the wildfire site in Sicheon-myeon?Songha, Naegong, Oegong, Jungtae, Hupyeong, Bancheon, Bulgye, and Sincheon?to evacuate immediately to safe locations.
The additional evacuation order was issued as forestry authorities are struggling to contain the fire amid dry atmospheric conditions and strong winds exceeding 10 meters per second near the mountain summit. On the 21st, evacuation orders were issued for seven villages?Gukdong, Jeomdong, Wonri, Seosin, Seochon, Dongsin, and Jungsan?resulting in 213 residents evacuating to the Korean Seonbi Culture Research Institute.
Furthermore, the occurrence of wildfires in other areas such as Gimhae on the same afternoon has led to the dispersion of available resources, which may slow down future firefighting efforts.
As of 3 PM on the 24th hour since the Sancheong wildfire started, the containment rate was 65%, down from 70% at 10:30 AM. The affected wildfire area has expanded to 290 hectares. The total fire front has also extended to 18 kilometers, with approximately 6.1 kilometers of active fire remaining in the central section.
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