Firefighters Battle Historic Wildfires In South Korea.
Firefighters in South Korea are working tirelessly to rescue people and protect ancient artefacts from the largest wildfires in the country’s history. The devastating blazes, which began in the south-east on 21 March, have claimed at least 26 lives and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.
Most of the victims were elderly, with local officials confirming that many were in their 60s and 70s. Eyewitnesses have described scenes of destruction, with one resident telling the BBC that the damage to his city has been “devastating”.
Authorities suspect that human activities sparked multiple fires, but strong winds and dry conditions have fuelled their rapid spread. The high winds have also made aerial firefighting efforts dangerous, resulting in the crash of a helicopter on Tuesday.
Among the cultural losses, a 1,300-year-old temple in Uiseong city has been completely destroyed, while other historic sites remain under threat.
Emergency teams continue to battle the flames, working to prevent further casualties and protect South Korea’s treasured heritage from the ongoing disaster.
