High Humidity Expected to Improve Firefighting Conditions
Four US Military Helicopters with 10,000-Liter Capacity Deployed from Today, On the sixth day of wildfires in Sancheong and Hadong, Gyeongnam, a firefighting helicopter is working in the Okjong-myeon area of Hadong County on March 26, 2025. ⓒ News1 Yoon Il-ji
, ‘(Gyeongnam=News1) Reporter Kang Mi-young = Efforts to control the wildfires in Sancheong and Hadong, Gyeongnam, have entered their seventh day, with flames spreading to Jirisan National Park.’,
, ‘According to the Korea Forest Service, as of 5 a.m. on the 27th, the containment rate is 77%, showing little change from the previous day. ‘,
, ‘The entire fire line measures 67 kilometers, with 51 kilometers (Sancheong 36 km, Hadong 15 km) of it successfully contained. The remaining 16 km (Sancheong 10 km, Hadong 6 km) is yet to be contained. The affected area is estimated to be 1,720 hectares, equivalent to 2,457 soccer fields.’,
, ‘As of 6 p.m. the previous day, the fire-affected area in the Jirisan region is estimated to be 20 hectares, equivalent to 28 soccer fields, and assessments are ongoing. ‘,
, ‘The authorities plan to deploy 29 helicopters, 2,002 personnel, and 226 pieces of equipment on this day to focus on preventing further spread. ‘,
, ‘Additionally, four US military helicopters, each with a water tank capacity of 10,000 liters, will be deployed for firefighting efforts.’,
, ‘The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that the wildfire areas in Sancheong and Hadong will be cloudy in the morning with light rain of 5mm starting in the afternoon. ‘,
, ‘Authorities anticipate that, even if the rainfall is not substantial, the increased humidity will improve the working conditions for firefighters and help prevent the wildfire from spreading.’,
, ‘The wildfire has resulted in 4 deaths, 5 severe injuries, and 4 minor injuries, with 1,573 nearby residents evacuated. Additionally, 72 structures, including houses and temples, have been completely destroyed.’