Gwangyang Wildfire Shifts to Nighttime Firefighting... 56% Containment Rate

Yonhap News Agency

In relation to the wildfire in Okgok-myeon, Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, fire authorities have issued Response Level 2 and are carrying out firefighting operations. With sunset, they have switched to nighttime firefighting mode to prepare for a prolonged operation.

According to forestry and fire authorities on January 21, a report was received at approximately 3:06 p.m. that a fire had started at a house in Okgok-myeon, Gwangyang, and was spreading to the nearby mountains.

The authorities mobilized 23 helicopters and 73 vehicles to fight the fire. Efforts were hampered by strong winds and a dry weather advisory in effect. As of 4:31 p.m. that day, the fire response level was raised from Level 1 to Level 2.

The forestry authorities are currently conducting nighttime firefighting with 352 personnel, including aerial firefighting teams and special wildfire disaster units, as well as 68 pieces of equipment such as high-performance wildfire response vehicles.

The house where the fire started was completely destroyed, but no casualties have been reported.

As of 6:00 p.m. that day, the wildfire had affected an area of 28 hectares, with a fire line length of 2.7 kilometers. Of this, 1.5 kilometers have been extinguished, resulting in a containment rate of 56 percent. Gwangyang City reported that, so far, 15 hectares of forest land have been damaged.

Currently, a total of 86 residents have evacuated, including 38 from Okgok-myeon and 48 from Jinsang-myeon.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung ordered related agencies, including the Korea Forest Service, the National Fire Agency, South Jeolla Province, and Gwangyang City, to swiftly deploy all available equipment and personnel to focus on early containment. He also instructed the establishment of a regional disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters, evacuation of residents, and the proactive construction of firebreaks.