Han Deok-su Urgently Orders "Mobilize All Administrative Resources for Resident Evacuation" Amid Wildfire Spread

"Mobilize All Equipment and Personnel for Early Wildfire Suppression"
Visit to Seoul Situation Center of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to Inspect Damage

Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo issued an emergency directive on the 25th as the wildfire spread to Andong City and Cheongsong County, raising concerns about casualties.

A fire caused by embers carried by strong winds from a wildfire in Hwaha 1-ri, Danchon-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk, is ongoing on the fourth day of the wildfire on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News

Acting President Han instructed, "For areas where evacuation orders have been issued, local governments must mobilize all administrative resources to support residents in quickly moving to safe locations."

He also ordered the Korea Forest Service to "cooperate with local governments, the National Fire Agency, the Ministry of National Defense, and others to deploy all available equipment and personnel to do their utmost in early wildfire suppression."

In particular, Acting President Han emphasized, "Pay close attention to the safety of firefighting personnel while ensuring there are no gaps in the preparation of personnel and equipment," adding, "Since dozens of helicopters from the National Fire Agency, Korea Forest Service, military, and local governments have been deployed for wildfire suppression, be careful with integrated control to prevent any safety accidents."

Following this, Acting President Han visited the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Seoul Situation Center to urgently inspect wildfire damage and response measures.

At the meeting, Acting President Han instructed, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, "All agencies including fire services, police, and local governments must respond with full force to prevent casualties from the wildfire by conducting resident evacuations, joint patrols with related agencies, controlling access to dangerous areas, and carrying out rescue operations."

Meanwhile, the wildfires that began last weekend in the Yeongnam region have caused significant damage in Sancheong and Hadong in Gyeongnam, Uiseong, Andong, and Cheongsong in Gyeongbuk, and Ulju in Ulsan, and have yet to be fully extinguished.