▲ 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)

(3rd LD) wildfire-damage

(3rd LD) 4 killed, 6 injured, some 1,500 evacuated as wildfires ravage southeastern region

(ATTN: UPDATES figures throughout; INCORPORATES details from article slugged 'acting president-wildfires'; ADDS details)

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- At least four people were killed, six people were injured and some 1,500 people were evacuated as wildfires fueled by strong winds have scorched areas of the nation's southeastern region, disaster authorities said Sunday.

The fire began in Sancheong County, about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Friday and spread to other parts.

Of the six people who were injured, five were seriously harmed. All victims were found in Sancheong, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

A total of 4,150 hectares of land -- equivalent to approximately 5,811 football fields -- has been burned so far, with more than 1,000 hectares destroyed in Euiseong in North Gyeongsang Province and Sancheong, respectively.

About 1,500 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters as authorities continue efforts to contain the fires.

As of 5 p.m., firefighters were working to extinguish wildfires in four areas across the southeastern region.

The government decided to provide Sancheong and two other regions affected by the wildfires with special grants of financial support to help with recovery efforts, acting President Choi Sang-mok said during a disaster control meeting.

"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.

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

Firefighters have been struggling to contain the fires, with about 30 helicopters mobilizing to put out them. Authorities said the fire in Sancheong had been some 53 percent contained as of Sunday afternoon.

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