(LEAD) wildfire-damage
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| ▲ 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) |
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| ▲ 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) |
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| ▲ 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) |
(LEAD) wildfire-damage
(LEAD) 4 killed, 6 injured, some 1,500 evacuated as wildfires ravage southeastern region
(ATTN: UPDATES with official's remark in paras 4-5; ADDS photo)
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.
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.
A total of 3,286.11 hectares of land -- equivalent to approximately 4,600 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 8 a.m., firefighters were working to extinguish wildfires in four areas across the southeastern region.
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