▲ Authorities put out a fire using a helicopter on March 22, 2025, a day after a wildfire broke out in the southeastern county of Sancheong, in this photo provided by the South Gyeongsang provincial government. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ Lee Han-kyung, deputy chief of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, speaks during a meeting on March 23, 2025, to discuss responses to put out wildfires in southeastern regions, in this photo provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ Wildfires burn trees on a mountain in Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province on March 21, 2025, in this photo provided by the Korea Forest Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(5th LD) wildfire-damage

(5th LD) S. Korea battles multiple wildfires in southeastern region amid strong dry winds

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest figures, other details)

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea was battling to contain multiple wildfires raging across the southeastern region Sunday, with strong and dry winds hindering efforts to bring the blaze under control, authorities said.

The fire began Friday in Sancheong County, 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, spreading to other areas. Wildfires also broke out in Euiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, about 180 km southeast of the capital; and Ulju County in Ulsan, some 300 km away.

Four people have been killed in the Sancheong fire so far, with six others injured. More than 1,500 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

A total of 4,650 hectares of land -- equivalent to approximately 6,512 football fields -- has been burned so far in Euiseong, leaving more than 390 people displaced.

Firefighting crews were working to contain the fires, but strong and dry winds were hindering the efforts. In the case of the Ulju fire, transmission towers on the mountains were making it difficult for fire helicopters to approach.

With low-humidity conditions and strong winds forecast for the coming days, the relevant authorities are gearing up to take all possible measures to bring the blaze under control.

On Sunday, acting President Choi Sang-mok said the government will provide Sancheong and two other regions affected by the wildfires with special grants of financial support to help with recovery efforts.

"We will urgently provide a special disaster and safety grant of 2.6 billion won (US$177.4 million) to the three wildfire-affected regions," Choi said during a disaster control meeting.

The government will also provide 50 million won in disaster relief funds to support evacuees and victims in Sancheong.

Choi also instructed officials to review additional designations of Euiseong and Ulju as special disaster zones, following the designation of Sancheong.

Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk convened a meeting with senior secretaries and discussed measures to bring the situation under control as soon as possible, the presidential office said.

"As strong winds are expected tomorrow, it was agreed that efforts should be focused on extinguishing the main fire before sunset today, while ensuring thorough preparations for nighttime operations," an official said.

Lee Han-kyung, deputy chief of the disaster control tower, instructed fire authorities to mobilize all available resources to promptly bring the wildfires under control.

"Wildfires are rapidly spreading to broader regions due to dry weather, threatening people's lives," Lee said in a disaster response meeting, vowing all-out efforts to put out the fires.

As of Sunday afternoon, firefighters had contained about 50-70 percent of the blaze in the three regions.

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