Overnight, the area affected by the wildfire increased by 780 hectares. The efforts to contain the fire are being hampered by strong winds and high temperatures.
On the fourth day since the wildfire erupted in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, helicopters from the Korea Forest Service are actively working to extinguish the fires in the Danchon area of Sancheong. Meanwhile, the wildfire in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang, continues to spread on the third day, causing authorities to deploy firefighting helicopters only in select areas due to dense smoke. The number of injuries increased by three from the previous day.
The Korea Forest Service announced in a briefing that 20 helicopters have been sent to the An-gye-myeon area in Uiseong to combat the fire. However, efforts to send helicopters to the Anpyeong area are stalled due to fog and smoke obstructing visibility. Originally, the plan was to deploy 57 helicopters, but the weather conditions in Anpyeong hindered their deployment. The fire in the An-gye segment is also intensifying.
In addition to helicopters, 2,602 personnel, including special wildfire suppression teams, and 318 pieces of equipment are being mobilized to fight the fires. However, the forecast for strong winds of up to 15 m/s and a maximum daytime temperature of 24°C could further complicate response efforts, potentially leading to an increase in damage within the Uiseong area.
As of 6 a.m., the overall containment rate for the Uiseong wildfire was 65%, with the affected area increasing by 780 hectares to 6,861 hectares since 9 p.m. the previous day. Of the total fire lines measuring 125.9 km, 44.4 km remain uncontrolled.
The containment rates for wildfires by region are as follows: Sancheong at 70%, Ulju at 69%, and Gimhae at 96%. The wildfire in Okcheon was fully extinguished the previous day. The combined forest damage from wildfires in Sancheong, Uiseong in North Gyeongsang, Ulju in Ulsan, Gimhae in South Gyeongsang, and Okcheon in North Chungcheong is estimated at 8,732.6 hectares.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 9 a.m. on the 24th, the wildfires have resulted in 4 deaths, 5 serious injuries, and 4 minor injuries. Among the casualties are 9 wildfire suppression team members, 1 resident, and 3 government officials, including firefighters.
Additionally, 162 structures, including homes, warehouses, temples, and factories, have been completely or partially destroyed by the fires. There are 2,742 displaced individuals from 1,485 households, with 689 people from 504 households having returned home, while the rest remain in temporary shelters.