FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE TO CONTAIN RECORD WILDFIRES IN SOUTH KOREA AS DEATH TOLL RISES TO 27

SEOUL, March 27 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea’s firefighters, using helicopters and soldiers, were struggling to contain the nation's worst-ever wildfires on Thursday, which have ravaged the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the death toll from the blazes reaching 27 and another 32 people injured, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Since last Friday, a wave of wildfires has swept through the region, burning some 36,000 hectares of woodland, according to government data.

This is nearly 13,000 hectares more than the 23,794 hectares damaged by the east coast wildfires in 2000, which were the worst in the nation’s history at the time.

About 37,000 people have been displaced, including 29,911 in the Uiseong and Andong areas of North Gyeongsang Province.

Earlier in the day, acting President Han Duck-soo instructed acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong to remain in North Gyeongsang Province and oversee relief efforts for wildfire victims until the blazes are brought under control.

"It is worrying that many of the victims are senior citizens, including patients at nursing hospitals," Han said.

"Please personally take care of the victims' health and safety on the ground, and activate an efficient support system so that wildfire-extinguishing personnel and volunteer workers do not burn out," Han added.

On the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya issued a message of condolence to the wildfire victims in Korea, expressing hope for a "fast recovery of affected people and their return to normal life."

Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima also delivered a message of consolation to the victims.

In North Gyeongsang Province, intense efforts have been under way to limit the spread of wildfires.

Authorities mobilised helicopters, fire trucks, and firefighting personnel to battle the blaze that began in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometres southeast of Seoul, on Saturday and has rapidly spread due to strong winds.

Around 5 mm of rain was expected to fall in North Gyeongsang Province, according to weather officials.

A main blaze in Uiseong, which was moving at speeds of up to 8 kilometres per hour, spread northeast and reached coastal areas along the East Sea.

Another major blaze in Ulju, however, showed signs of being extinguished, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-kyum told reporters.

Water was cut off in some parts of Andong for the second day, prompting the city government to supply bottled water and emergency provisions to residents.

Nearly 2,500 houses in the city experienced power outages, with officials still working to restore electricity to 177 of them.

The nearby county of Yeongdeok also suffered water and power disruptions, as a water purification plant burned down, electricity was cut off to another plant, and a power substation halted operations.

Communication services were also down in the county overnight before being restored early on Thursday.

The government designated the hardest-hit southeastern regions as disaster zones to focus resources and accelerate recovery efforts.

Earlier, the government designated Sancheong in South Gyeongsang Province; Ulju in Ulsan; Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province; and Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones.

On Thursday, four more jurisdictions in the southeastern region — Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok in North Gyeongsang Province — were added to the list.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP