▲ A massive wildfire spreads along the east coast in Gangneung, northeastern South Korea, on April 11, 2023, in this photo provided by reader Jeong Min-ji. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ A wildfire rages on a hill in Gangneung, northeastern South Korea, on April 11, 2023, in this photo provided by the Korea Forest Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ A house and a nearby hill in Gangneung, northeastern South Korea, are engulfed by flames on April 11, 2023, amid high wind and dry weather warnings for east coast areas. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) strong winds-wildfires

(2nd LD) Wildfires destroy 40 homes, massive woodland on east coast amid typhoon-class strong winds

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest info in paras 1-10; CHANGES headline; ADDS photo)

SEOUL/GANGNEUNG, South Korea, April 11 (Yonhap) -- A wind-swept wildfire tore through the northeastern coastal city of Gangneung on Tuesday, destroying about 40 homes and buildings, burning woodland the size of 144 football fields, and forcing hundreds of residents and tourists to evacuate.

The wildfire broke out on a hill in Gangneung's Nangok-dong district at around 8:30 a.m. amid the combination of high wind and dry weather warnings issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) for the region earlier.

From early Tuesday, typhoon-class strong winds with an instantaneous maximum speed reaching 30 meters per second blew over Gangneung, 168 kilometers east of Seoul, and other east coast areas of Gangwon Province.

The fire was rapidly spreading to the district's residential areas due to gusty winds, burning 103 hectares of woodland, the equivalent of 144 football fields, 28 homes, 12 pension houses and four hotel buildings so far, according to the city's fire officials. No casualties have been reported yet.

The officials speculate that the wildfire may have been caused by a wind-damaged pine tree touching an electric wire before spreading to the nearby forest.

The city government sent a disaster warning message to the fire-stricken district's residents, asking them to evacuate to schools, community service centers or the Gangneung Ice Arena. So far, 303 people from 147 households have reportedly taken shelter in those places.

Some 700 tourists staying in nearby accommodations also evacuated to safe places in case there is an emergency.

A total of 15 elementary and secondary schools along the east coast suspended classes and sent students home.

The fire authorities raised their response posture to the highest level and mobilized more than 1,410 firefighters and 200 fire trucks, though their firefighting efforts were hampered by strong winds.

Six helicopters were also mobilized but were all grounded due to the strong winds.

East coast areas hit by typhoon-class strong winds, wildfires[https://youtu.be/8W7Qb8noMnA]

In Seoul, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the government to swiftly use all available equipment and manpower to extinguish the wildfires as soon as possible and prevent casualties, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.

The KMA has also issued a strong wind advisory elsewhere in the nation, including central inland and western and southern coastal areas, saying the unusual weather conditions have occurred because the Korean Peninsula is located between high pressure to the south and low pressure to the north.

In addition, the state weather agency issued a cold wave advisory for dozens of cities and counties throughout the country as of Tuesday morning.

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