Korea Forest Service Issues National Crisis Alert 'Severe' for Wildfire Disasters Nationwide

The Korea Forest Service announced that as of 4 p.m. on the 25th, it will issue a national crisis alert for forest fire disasters at the 'Severe' level for all regions nationwide.

At the wildfire site in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, the Korea Forest Service's aerial firefighting team is conducting nighttime wildfire suppression activities. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

According to the Korea Forest Service, the large forest fires that occurred on the 21st in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, and on the 22nd in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, and Ulju, Ulsan have not been completely extinguished as of the 25th.

Additional forest fires are also occurring simultaneously across the country. In response, the Korea Forest Service explained that it raised the national crisis alert to fully mobilize efforts against the forest fire disaster crisis.

In regions where the forest fire crisis alert is issued at the 'Severe' level (nationwide), at least one-quarter of local government officials and at least half of public service personnel must be on standby and deployed.

Additionally, military unit firing exercises will be restrained, and permits for entering restricted mountain areas will be suspended.

Previously, on the 22nd at 3:30 p.m., the Korea Forest Service upgraded the crisis alert from 'Caution' to 'Severe' for the Chungcheong, Honam, and Yeongnam regions, and raised the alert from 'Caution' to 'Warning' for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Jeju regions.

Lee Yong-kwon, the Forest Disaster Control Officer of the Korea Forest Service, expressed concern, saying, "Forest fires are occurring simultaneously nationwide," and "There is a very high risk that even small sparks can spread into large forest fires due to strong winds."

He added, "The Korea Forest Service will maintain close cooperation with local governments, fire departments, military units, police, the Korea Meteorological Administration, and other related agencies, and will mobilize all available resources to protect forests and the lives and property of the people from forest fires."