At least 30 people were killed and more than 48,000 hectares, or 119,000 acres, of land was burned in fires that raged over the last week of March in South Korea, media reported.
According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the fires started on March 21 and were accompanied by strong winds and dry weather. Local authorities issued wind advisories on March 21 and 22 warning people to refrain from burning trash and agricultural waste. But by then, large forest fires were already recorded.
The disaster is reportedly South Korea’s largest recorded wildfire as the blaze raged on for several days. Most of the fires were contained starting March 28, although new fires appeared days later.
The Associated Press reported that the fatalities included four firefighters and a pilot whose helicopter crashed while fighting the blazes. The others killed were civilians, mostly elderly people who were unable to evacuate. Another 45 people were injured, nine in serious condition.
The report said 6,000 structures were damaged or destroyed. Tens of thousands of people had to evacuate after their houses caught fire. More than 3,100 people fled to 114 temporary shelters, while the towns of Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok were declared special disaster zones, CNN reported.
To help fight the wildfire, South Korea deployed 10,000 firefighters, police and civil servants, as well as 7,500 ground troops and more than 420 helicopters, according to reports.
A truck driver told AFP that the wildfire “was like the apocalypse.” Residents and monks were devastated by the destruction of temples, especially Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, one of the largest in the town and built in 618 C.E., the BBC reported.
Police in North Gyeongsang province said they suspect one of the wildfires was caused by a man setting fire to clear grass around a family grave in Uiseong. Police say the other fires were likely also accidents caused by sparks from welding or burning trash.
South Korea is experiencing “unusually warm” spring temperatures that dried out vegetation and contributed to the fast-moving fires. Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo told CNN the wildfires caused “unprecedented damage.” He also said that since the start of the year, 244 wildfires have already been recorded in the country, a figure 2.4 times higher than during the same period last year.
Based on daily maximum temperatures, researchers from Climate Central confirmed that “Human-caused climate change has significantly amplified the likelihood of this heat, further intensifying fire risks in areas already grappling with severe drought.”
Banner image of South Korea wildfires by NASA (Public domain).
This story first appeared on Mongabay
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