Containment Rate Reaches 82% as of 8 a.m. on the 29th
Fortunately, No Casualties Confirmed
Questions Raised Over Ignition in Restricted Area
The forest fire in Hamjisan, Bukgu, Daegu has entered its second day. Forest authorities resumed full-scale firefighting operations from the morning of April 29, aiming to first contain the main blaze. However, strong winds remain a variable of concern.
According to the National Fire Agency and other authorities on April 29, 52 firefighting helicopters, 1,551 personnel, and 205 pieces of equipment were sequentially deployed to the wildfire sites in Nogokdong and Joyadong, Bukgu, starting at sunrise.
A forest fire that broke out at 2:01 PM on the 28th in Hamjisan, Nogokdong, Bukgu, Daegu is continuing to spread overnight. Photo by Yonhap News
As of 8 a.m. on this day, the wildfire containment rate stood at 82%, a significant increase from the 54% recorded at midnight. The affected area was measured at 260 hectares, and the remaining active fire line was reported to be 2 kilometers long.
Fortunately, no casualties have been confirmed. Thanks to the swift response of the National Fire Agency, 661 out of 6,500 residents from 3,514 households in Nogok, Joya, Seobyeon, and Guam-dong have been evacuated to five different schools, including Paldal, Maechon, Yeongyeong, and Dongpyeong Elementary Schools, as well as Dongbyeon Middle School. Notably, when the fire began to spread toward residential areas, the National Fire Agency promptly issued a National Fire Mobilization Order at around 4 p.m. on the 28th. This order mobilized fire trucks and other resources from across the region, preventing casualties. In cooperation with public health centers, 61 residents from care facilities such as Siloam Nursing Home, Jeonghyang Silver Town, Dongseobyeon Silver Town, and Daegu Nursing Home were also quickly evacuated.
However, questions remain as to how the fire started in Hamjisan, where entry has been prohibited under Daegu City's "Wildfire Prevention Administrative Order" since April 1. Kim Jeonggi, acting mayor of Daegu, stated, "The ignition point was within a restricted area, not on a regular hiking trail," and added, "We plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire after it has been extinguished."
Authorities have set a goal to contain the main blaze by late morning, but remain on high alert. Winds at the fire site are currently blowing at 1 meter per second, with forecasts predicting gusts of up to 3 meters per second in the afternoon. There are also concerns that the fire could spread further, as the affected area is close to the city center.
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