SEOUL/CHANGWON (South Korea), March 22 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- The South Korean government declared a state of national disaster Saturday over massive wildfires that have engulfed Ulsan city and southeastern regions, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The measure took effect in Ulsan city, North Gyeongsang Province and South Gyeongsang Province as of 6 pm, the Interior and Safety Ministry said.
The announcement followed acting President Choi Sang-mok's recommendation to issue the declaration in order to implement comprehensive measures to combat the disaster and aid recovery efforts, it added.
Choi also ordered government officials to consider designating the affected areas as special disaster zones.
Shortly before the declaration, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, chaired by acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong, began operation, the ministry said.
The decision came as multiple wildfires were reported in Ulsan city and other southeastern counties, including Sancheong County.
Eight villages in Sancheong were placed under evacuation orders as strong winds hampered firefighting efforts a day after the fire first broke out on Friday afternoon.
More than 260 villagers lost their homes and sought refuge in temporary shelters.
In the region, 35 percent of the blaze had been extinguished as of 5 pm, down from 70 percent at 10.30 am, due to strong winds.
The county office said two firefighters were found dead, while two others remained missing and six were injured.
A wildfire in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, broke out earlier in the day, affecting 300 hectares of forest, according to authorities.
Firefighters had extinguished four percent of the blaze as of 5 pm, while some 500 villagers were displaced.
Train operations through the affected region were temporarily suspended.
Another fire in Ulju County in western Ulsan forced the evacuation of around 80 residents.
Meanwhile, the Korea Forest Service raised the wildfire emergency level to its highest as of 3.30 pm, with 16 wildfires reported nationwide amid strong winds.
-- BERNAMA-YONHAP
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