Sancheong Wildfire Continues for Third Day, Spreads to Hadong ... 15 Homes and Temples Completely Destroyed

Containment Rate at 30%, Wildfire Affects Approximately 1,329 Hectares

A wildfire suppression team member is conducting firefighting operations at a wildfire site in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam Province. Provided by Korea Forest Service

The wildfire that broke out in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam on the 21st has not yet been extinguished, with the blaze spreading to parts of Okjong-myeon, Hadong-gun.

Relevant agencies such as Gyeongnam Province, the Korea Forest Service, the National Fire Agency, the National Police Agency, the military, and the Korea Meteorological Administration are making all-out efforts by mobilizing all available resources, but the dry weather and wind are making firefighting difficult.

On the third day of the fire, the 23rd, Gyeongnam Province continued firefighting efforts by deploying 2,049 personnel, including the aerial firefighting team, special wildfire disaster response team, provincial wildfire expert team, firefighters, and soldiers, as well as 217 pieces of firefighting equipment.

Firefighting helicopters, which were scheduled to be dispatched at sunrise, have been delayed due to thick haze.

The province plans to resume aerial firefighting operations by deploying 33 helicopters as soon as the haze clears.

Park Myungkyun, Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is announcing the firefighting plan at the wildfire site in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong County. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

The wildfire in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong, broke out at around 3:26 p.m. on the 21st. The cause of the fire has not yet been identified.

During firefighting operations, four firefighting personnel, including members of the Changnyeong-gun wildfire response team, were killed after being isolated by a reverse wind. Five others sustained serious injuries, and one suffered minor injuries.

As the fire spread due to strong winds, 15 places, including six homes, two temples, and one factory, were reduced to ashes.

Due to the fire, 344 residents from 254 households in Sancheong-gun were evacuated to nine locations, including Donguibogamchon, and 117 residents from 76 households in Hadong-gun were evacuated to four locations, including Okcheongwan.

As of 7 a.m. on the 23rd, the containment rate had dropped to 30%, and the wildfire-affected area had expanded to about 1,329 hectares.

The total length of the fire line is 40 kilometers, with about 28 kilometers remaining.

On-site, winds are blowing at up to 8 meters per second, with a temperature of 6.8 degrees Celsius and humidity at 69%.

With wildfires breaking out simultaneously across the country, the unified wildfire response command was delegated from the head of the Korea Forest Service to the governor of Gyeongnam Province as of 8 a.m. on the 23rd.

Vice Governor Park Myungkyun stated, "We will maintain close cooperation with relevant agencies and mobilize all available resources to do our utmost to protect the safety of residents," adding, "We will also ensure proper funeral arrangements and honors for the four people who lost their lives while fighting the wildfire."