NEWSBRIEF – SOUTH KOREA:
Latest Updates for Friday, March 28th
- Over 90% of the fires in the North Gyeongsang Province have been contained.
- The injured have reached 37.
- No additional fatalities reported yet.
Thursday Updates: March 27th
- As of Thursday March 27, the seventh day of the wildfires, the death toll had reached 28.
- Some minor fires had been extinguished.
- Some areas previously under evacuation orders had them lifted.
- Uiseong County hit hardest with fastest moving blaze.
How did the South Korea Wildfires Start?
The South Korean authorities believe that the wildfires were as a result of human activity, coupled with numerous catalysts which has made the fires spread as fast as they have.
South Korea’s forested area covers over six million (6 Million) hectares, which is approximately 63% of the total land area.
Of this, much of the trees are pine which are known to produce a resin (pine sap) which is highly flammable. Coupled with dry “waste” from leaves, grass, etc, which is common in forested areas, and the gusting winds, the fires spread rapidly.
How it’s going
As of Thursday March 27, over 38,000 hectares of forested area had burnt, with over 37,000 residents being displaced.
Uiseong County had seen a fast moving blaze due to strong winds, reaching the coastal areas.
Ulju blaze had been contained.
The death toll
The death toll had reached 28 as of Thursday, with 32 recorded injuries.
Soldiers and firefighters have been deployed to help in fighting the fires, using helicopters, and firetrucks.
For the areas where the fires have been completely contained which were previously designated as disaster areas, has lifted evacuation orders.
Some of the basic amenities which had been cut-off by the fires like water, communications and power have started to be restored.
We’ll keep you updated with any new developments.
