‘Gangpung-e Balmok’ Sancheong·Ulju Hwaseon Expansion... Firefighting Rate Also Decreases

As the fire fronts of the wildfires in Sancheong, Gyeongnam and Ulju expand, the containment rates have also decreased compared to before sunrise. Strong winds are hindering the wildfire suppression efforts.

According to the Korea Forest Service Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 24th, as of 12 PM, the containment rate of the wildfire in Sincheon-ri, Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun is 68%, and the containment rate of the wildfire in Unhwa-ri, Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan is 66%. Compared to 6 AM that day, the containment rate decreased by 5 percentage points in Sancheong and 1 percentage point in Ulju, respectively.

At the wildfire site in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, the Korea Forest Service wildfire suppression team is conducting firefighting activities. Photo by Korea Forest Service

The wildfire-affected areas and fire fronts have also expanded. The wildfire-affected area around Sancheong increased from 1,464 hectares to 1,502 hectares, and the fire front length increased from 48 km to 50 km. As of 12 PM, the forestry authorities have completed containment of 34 km of the fire front and are conducting suppression activities along a 16 km section.

The situation at the Ulju wildfire site is similar. The wildfire-affected area in this region expanded from 278 hectares to 394 hectares, and the fire front length increased from 13.1 km to 15.7 km. The contained fire front is 10.3 km long, and suppression activities are still ongoing along the remaining 5.4 km section.

On site, strong winds are causing difficulties in wildfire suppression. Sancheong is experiencing maximum wind speeds of 10 to 16 m/s, while Ulju is seeing maximum wind speeds of 11 m/s.

Due to the expansion of the fire fronts and other factors, the number of evacuees has also increased. As of 12 PM, 1,143 residents in Sancheong (compared to 589 residents at 6 AM) and 170 residents in Ulju (compared to 117 residents at 6 AM) have moved from their homes to evacuation shelters.

In Sancheong, two additional injuries have been reported. So far, the casualties in Sancheong include 4 deaths and 4 injuries.

The Korea Forest Service Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated, “We will mobilize all available suppression resources, including firefighting helicopters and personnel, to suppress the main fires,” and added, “Above all, we will do our utmost to prevent any further casualties during the wildfire suppression process.”