On the afternoon of the 23rd last month, a fire spread in the hills of Jeonggok-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk. Kim Young-won, reporter [email protected]
There is increasing concern about the spread of wildfires as strong winds of 20 to 25 meters per second are forecast for the evening of the 7th in the Gangwon Yeongdong and Gyeongbuk East Coast areas. The government has convened an emergency meeting with relevant agencies and urged thorough preparations.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held a “Wildfire Countermeasure Meeting for Strong Winds” presided over by Director of Disaster Safety Management Lee Han-kyung. This meeting was organized to urgently check the readiness for wildfires in the Gangwon and Gyeongbuk East Coast areas following the strong wind forecast by the Korea Meteorological Administration.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from 6 p.m. on that day to noon on the 8th, the Gangwon mountainous areas are expected to experience winds of over 25 meters per second, and the coastal areas winds of around 20 meters per second. Especially concerning is the current pressure pattern, similar to the “southern high, northern low” formation during the major wildfire spread in Gyeongbuk on March 25, indicating a high risk of wildfires.
In the meeting, Director Lee Han-kyung expressed concern, noting, “Just like during the past Gyeongbuk wildfire, wind speeds are expected to remain strong even at night, which is more worrying.” He emphasized, “Regions with high potential for major wildfires, like Gangwon, need to prepare thoroughly as other uncertainties beyond weather predictions may arise.”
The Korea Forest Service and Fire Service Agency plan to pre-deploy major resources such as firefighting helicopters and personnel in the Gangwon and Gyeongbuk East Coast regions. Local governments are tasked with inspecting preemptive evacuation systems assuming wind speeds of over 20 meters per second and closely monitoring care facilities for the vulnerable, including the disabled and elderly.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety requested, “Refrain from burning field stubble or garbage under any circumstances, and if a wildfire occurs, immediately report it to 119 or local authorities.”