▲ Acting Minister of the Interior and Safety, Ko Ki-dong, who serves as the head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, speaks at the 4th meeting addressing wildfires in Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam, held at the Government Complex in Seoul, Jongno-gu on the 25th.
Ko Ki-dong, the head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, announced today (25th) that “the area affected by wildfires so far is approximately 14,694 hectares, resulting in significant damage, with 15 casualties and over 3,300 residents staying in temporary shelters.”
In his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Complex in Seoul, he stated, “The current situation with strong winds, dry weather, and haze is not favorable, and it is challenging to control the fires.”
He further emphasized, “To quickly suppress the prolonged large-scale wildfires and minimize damage, the government is making an all-out effort with a pan-governmental response centered on the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. Today, we are deploying all available resources, including 110 helicopters and around 6,700 personnel, to focus on extinguishing the fires and doing our utmost to prevent the spread to residential areas.”
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of 7 AM today, wildfire suppression efforts are ongoing in four locations: Sanchong and Hadong in Gyeongnam, Uiseong in Gyeongbuk, Ulju in Ulsan, and Gimhae in Gyeongnam.
The average suppression rate is 88%, but in Uiseong, it remains at 55%.
The Korea Forest Service is utilizing all available helicopter resources to carry out suppression operations, concentrating on preventing the fire spread by dispersing retardants around residential areas.
The National Fire Agency is also deploying fire resources from across the country to prioritize protecting nearby residences and lives in the wildfire-affected area.
Related ministries and local governments are implementing safety measures such as roadblocks and preemptive resident evacuations to prevent additional casualties and property damage.
As a result, a segment of the Seo-San Yeongdeok Expressway between North Uiseong IC and Yeongdeok Tollgate, which is at risk of wildfire damage, has been fully closed in both directions since 3:35 PM the previous day.
Ko Ki-dong stated, “As of March 24, there have been a total of 234 wildfire incidents this year, with most fires caused by visitors, agricultural by-product burning, or garbage incineration.” He stressed that “due to the strong winds and dry weather, even a small spark can escalate into a large wildfire, so extra caution is necessary.”
(Photo = Yonhap News)