▲ Firefighters put out a wildfire in the southeastern city of Miryang on Feb. 24, 2026, in this photo provided by the Korea Forest Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This undated photo, provided by a reader, shows a wildfire burning in the southeastern city of Miryang. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This undated photo, provided by the Korea Forest Service, shows firefighters battling a wildfire in the southeastern city of Miryang. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) wildfire-southeastern city

(LEAD) Main blaze of wildfire put out in southeastern city of Miryang

(ATTN: UPDATES with extinguishment of main blaze; CHANGES headline; ADDS photo)

MIRYANG, South Korea, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- The main blaze of a wildfire in the southeastern city of Miryang was put out Tuesday after affecting an area the size of 200 football fields, authorities said.

The fire started Monday afternoon on a hill in the city some 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, forcing the evacuation of dozens of residents and patients at long-term care hospitals, according to forestry and firefighting officials.

The main blaze was extinguished at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday after more than 1,500 personnel, 52 helicopters and 318 pieces of equipment were sent to battle the fire, according to the Korea Forest Service.

Rain in the morning also helped the effort.

The affected area was estimated at 143 hectares, the equivalent of 200 football fields.

No casualties or damage to facilities was reported.

The National Fire Agency had issued a national firefighting mobilization order, which is given when the scale of the fire is deemed to surpass the firefighting capacity of the local government.

Forestry authorities had also ordered a Level 2 wildfire response, which corresponds to when the damage is expected to exceed 100 hectares, the average wind speed tops 11 meters per second or containing the fire could take more than 48 hours.

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