Han Deok-su: "Wildfire Developments Exceed Expectations... Responding Assuming Worst-Case Scenario"

Emergency Central Disaster Headquarters Meeting Convened Amid Wildfire Spread
"Unprecedented Wildfire Damage... Preemptive Evacuation Needed"

Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo stated on the 26th, "The wildfire is unfolding in a pattern that surpasses existing prediction methods and expectations," and urged, "All agencies should respond assuming the worst-case scenario, which is more severe."

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is presiding over the 'Situation Assessment Meeting on the Wildfires in Uiseong and Andong, Gyeongbuk' at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in the Government Seoul Office Building on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News

Acting President Han held the 5th meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for wildfire response at the Government Seoul Office that morning, saying, "Unprecedented damage is occurring due to wildfires continuing for five days in the Ulsan and Gyeongsang provinces."

The wildfire that started on the 22nd in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, spread to Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Pohang, driven by strong winds. In response, Acting President Han scheduled an emergency meeting the previous night to address the wildfire response.

He said, "Despite many people struggling to extinguish the wildfire under various adverse conditions, the strong winds of 25 meters per second persisted from yesterday afternoon until night, causing the suspension of helicopter and drone deployments. The constantly changing wind directions and ongoing dry weather warnings exposed the limitations of existing firefighting methods."

He added, "Although emergency evacuations of residents began yesterday afternoon, regrettably, casualties could not be prevented. Throughout the night, chaotic situations continued with power and communication outages in various areas and road blockages," and explained, "The government is overcoming this serious situation by upgrading the wildfire crisis level nationwide to ‘Severe,’ issuing the ‘National Fire Mobilization Order,’ and the police declaring ‘Gapho Emergency,’ implementing a nationwide response."

Acting President Han emphasized that to prevent further damage, proactive evacuation, thorough control, and strengthened surveillance activities are necessary.

He stated, "We have actively conducted preemptive evacuations focusing on vulnerable groups, including 2,148 residents of facilities such as nursing hospitals and welfare centers for the disabled. Local governments have strengthened on-site surveillance led by deputy heads, meticulously inspecting every corner of towns and villages, and are actively implementing preemptive evacuation measures in areas where wildfire damage is even slightly anticipated," and requested, "We ask for the active cooperation of the public, even if it causes some inconvenience."