12 Dead in Gyeongbuk Northeastern Region Where ‘Uiseong Wildfire’ Spread

A wildfire that broke out in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk, rapidly spread over five days driven by strong winds, causing numerous casualties in four cities and counties in the northeastern part of Gyeongbuk.

Yonhap News

According to the police on the 26th, a total of 12 people have died due to the wildfire so far. Human and property damages have occurred continuously along the path of the wildfire's eastward advance. It is presumed that the victims died either from suffocation caused by the smoke or while evacuating to escape the flames.

In Yeongyang-gun, around 11 p.m. on the 25th, four charred bodies of men and women, presumed to be traveling together, were found on roads and other locations. One man in his 60s was injured by burns and transported to a hospital. Among the deceased, three men and women in their 50s and 60s and one man who was burned were family members who were evacuating together by car when they had an overturn accident.

In Cheongsong-gun, two elderly people in their 70s and 80s were found dead at their homes and other locations, and a charred body of a woman in her 60s was found on the outskirts of Cheongsong-eup. A woman in her 70s was seriously injured in a traffic accident while evacuating with her family and was transferred to a hospital. In Jinbo-myeon, an 80-year-old woman suffering from dementia is currently missing.

In Andong, women in their 50s and 70s were found dead in houses located in Imha-myeon and Imdong-myeon, respectively. At the scene, the husband of the deceased woman in her 50s was also found injured and was taken to a hospital.

In Maejung-ri, Yeongdeok-gun, three unidentified deceased persons were found, and authorities are conducting an investigation.