Containment Rate Reaches 97%
Wildfire-Affected Area Expands to 1,858 Hectares
On the 29th, marking the ninth day since the wildfire in Sancheong, Gyeongnam began, the provincial and forestry authorities are focusing all efforts on extinguishing the main fire.
The wildfire in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong County, which broke out at 3:26 p.m. on the 21st, had reached a containment rate of 97% as of noon on this day.
At the same time, the wildfire-affected area was 1,858 hectares, with 1.9 kilometers remaining out of a total fire line of 71 kilometers. Of this, approximately 1 kilometer was estimated to be in the Jirisan area.
So far, there have been 14 casualties: 4 dead, 5 seriously injured, and 5 with minor injuries. Damage to facilities, including homes, factories, and religious sites, has been tallied at 83 locations.
Due to the wildfire, a total of 713 people?582 from Sancheong County and 131 from Hadong County?have evacuated to places such as Sancheong Donguibogamchon.
Previously, the Gyeongnam provincial government, forestry, and fire authorities mobilized 223 firefighting vehicles, including high-performance wildfire trucks, as well as 1,036 personnel from the Korea Forest Service, firefighters, police, the Army’s 39th Division, and national park staff for overnight firefighting operations.
As a result, the fire line was pushed back about 2 kilometers from the containment line, which was 4.5 kilometers from the summit of Jirisan.
At the site of the wildfire in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, a firefighter is removing fallen leaves to prevent the fire from spreading. Video provided by the Korea Forest Service
At sunrise, 54 helicopters, 223 pieces of equipment, and 1,686 personnel?including wildfire suppression teams, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, soldiers, police, public officials, national park staff, and members of the forestry cooperative?were deployed to battle the blaze.
Im Sangseop, Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, stated at an on-site briefing, "The main fire remains in Naewon Valley, where the thick layer of fallen leaves makes suppression very difficult. We will focus all efforts on extinguishing the main fire by deploying firefighting helicopters and ground personnel."
He added, "We will maintain close cooperation with relevant agencies and prioritize the safety of residents and firefighting personnel in all suppression operations."
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