Large Wildfires Across the Country... Burned Area Equivalent to 4,600 Soccer Fields (Comprehensive)

10 Casualties: 4 Dead, 6 Seriously or Moderately Injured
Two-way Traffic Resumes on Busan-Ulsan Expressway

Over the weekend of the 22nd to 23rd, large-scale wildfires broke out in various parts of the country, including Sancheong in Gyeongnam, Uiseong in Gyeongbuk, and Ulju in Ulsan, amid dry weather, prompting local governments and forestry authorities to exert all efforts to extinguish the fires. The Sancheong wildfire spread to parts of Hadong, and the Daegu wildfire expanded to Gyeongsan in Gyeongbuk, spreading to nearby areas driven by strong winds.

The trains on the Jungang Line between Andong and Gyeongju and both directions of the Busan-Ulsan Expressway, which had been closed due to the wildfires, have resumed operation.

A large forest fire, the first to occur this year in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, has entered its second day on the 22nd, with flames rising along the roadside in Sancheong-gun. Photo by Yonhap News

◆Wildfire containment rates: 30% in Sancheong, Gyeongnam; 2% in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk= The wildfire that has been ongoing for three days since the 21st on a mountain in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, had a containment rate of about 30% as of the morning of the 23rd. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Korea Forest Service deployed 33 helicopters, 1,351 personnel, and 217 firefighting vehicles to control the flames. The affected area covers 1,329 hectares, with a total fire line of 40 km. Of this, 28 km is currently being extinguished, and 12 km has been contained.

Due to this wildfire, which triggered a Level 3 response, four members of the firefighting team and public officials from Changnyeong-gun died, and six others sustained serious to moderate injuries. A Level 3 wildfire response is issued when the estimated damage area is between 100 and less than 3,000 hectares, strong winds exceeding 11 m/s are blowing, and the firefighting time is expected to be between 24 and less than 48 hours. Changnyeong-gun plans to consult with the bereaved families to place the bodies of the four deceased at Changnyeong Seoul Hospital and set up a mourning hall.

The containment rate of the wildfire that started on the morning of the previous day in a mountain area in Gwaesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk, was 2% as of 10 a.m. that day. The affected area increased to 2,602 hectares, with a total fire line of 67 km, and a remaining fire line of 65.7 km (1.3 km contained).

Although 52 helicopters from the Korea Forest Service and local governments were scheduled to be deployed on site, they could not be deployed simultaneously due to low-lying smoke in the area. On the ground, about 3,000 personnel and 440 pieces of equipment are engaged in firefighting. A north wind averaging 2 m/s is blowing at the site, and the wind direction is expected to shift to the west from daytime.

The containment rate of the wildfire that occurred in Unhwa-ri, Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, was about 65% as of the morning of that day. Although the containment rate was 70% at 7 p.m. the previous day, the flames spread overnight. The wildfire-affected area expected to suffer damage is 105 hectares. Authorities have mobilized 1,940 personnel, including special firefighting teams, public officials, police, and firefighters, and 12 helicopters to continue the main fire suppression efforts for the second day. A Level 3 wildfire response was issued from 9 a.m.

A Level 2 wildfire response was issued for a wildfire that occurred around Hallim-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, at 7 a.m. that day. This level is issued when the expected damage area is between 50 and 100 hectares and the fire is expected to be extinguished within 48 hours. The affected area is 70 hectares, with a total fire line of 3.44 km. Of this, 2.77 km is being extinguished, and 0.67 km has been contained.

A wildfire also broke out in the Byeongpungsan area of Sanjeon-ri, Namcheon-myeon, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, on the morning of that day, and forestry authorities are working to extinguish it. This fire is presumed to have spread from a fire that occurred the previous day in Uksu-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu.

Gyeongnam Sancheong Aerial Firefighting Team Engaged in Nighttime Wildfire Suppression. Provided by Korea Forest Service

◆Resumption of train service on Jungang Line between Andong and Gyeongju and two-way traffic on Busan-Ulsan Expressway= Train and highway traffic, which had been suspended due to large wildfires, are gradually resuming. Korail announced that train operations on the Jungang Line between Andong and Gyeongju, which had been suspended due to the wildfire in Uiseong, have resumed after safety inspections.

Earlier, a wildfire that started around 11:24 a.m. the previous day in a mountain area in Gwaesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, spread, and another wildfire occurred near the Hwahwa Tunnel on the Jungang Line section between Uiseong and Andong stations around 3:45 p.m. the same day. Consequently, Korail suspended train operations between Andong and Gyeongju stations and provided bus shuttle services.

Most of the traffic restrictions on sections of the Busan-Ulsan Expressway, which had been limited due to the Ulju wildfire, were lifted that morning. Korea Expressway Corporation and Ulsan Police Agency announced that two-way traffic between Jangan IC and Cheongnyang IC on the Busan-Ulsan Expressway resumed from 9 a.m. However, a 1 km section near Onyang IC adjacent to the wildfire remains under control, with fire trucks on standby to prevent fire spread, maintaining control of only the third lane out of three lanes in each direction.

A wildfire that broke out on the 22nd in Gwaesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province is rapidly spreading. Yonhap News

◆"Simultaneous wildfires damage 3,286 hectares of forest"…4 dead, 6 seriously to moderately injured= Simultaneous nationwide wildfires have burned 3,286 hectares of forest, equivalent to about 4,600 soccer fields, and resulted in 10 casualties, according to preliminary estimates.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 8 a.m. that day, four people lost their lives due to the wildfire that started on the 21st in Sancheong-gun. Five were seriously injured, and one sustained minor injuries. All casualties occurred in Sancheong. In Sancheong, 10 houses were burned, while in Uiseong, 24 houses were completely destroyed and 5 houses suffered partial damage.

Forest damage is also extensive, with 3,286.11 hectares burned so far. In terms of scale, this is equivalent to about 4,600 soccer fields. By region, the damage is 1,802 hectares in Uiseong, 1,329 hectares in Sancheong, 85 hectares in Ulju, and 70.11 hectares in Gimhae, Gyeongnam.

Lee Hang-kyung, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), said, "The wildfires are spreading over a wide area amid dry weather. We will do our best to quickly contain them."

Meanwhile, earlier, the government declared a disaster situation in the regions of Sancheong, Gyeongnam; Uiseong, Gyeongbuk; and Ulju, Ulsan, at 6 p.m. the previous day as the damage from the wildfires expanded.