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Two firefighters dead, two missing as Korea declares state of disaster

Published: 22 Mar. 2025, 18:57 Updated: 23 Mar. 2025, 14:22

PARK EUN-JEE
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This March 21 photo, provided by the Korea Forest Service, shows a wildfire that broke out in the southeastern county of Sancheong. [YONHAP]

Two firefighters were killed and another two went missing on Saturday while combating wildfires raging in southeastern Korea as the government declared a state of disaster in the region.

The affected areas include Ulsan, Uiseong County in North Gyeongsang, and several other municipalities throughout the Gyeongsang region.

Evacuation orders were issued for more villages on Saturday as strong winds impeded firefighting operations against a wildfire that first ignited in the southeastern county of Sancheong, officials said.

Sancheong's county office notified residents and visitors in eight nearby towns to immediately evacuate to safe areas at 3 p.m.

The move came a day after the county office ordered 213 residents in seven villages hit by the wildfire to evacuate to a nearby research center.

Authorities put out a fire using a helicopter on March 22, a day after a wildfire broke out in the southeastern county of Sancheong, in this photo provided by the South Gyeongsang provincial government. [YONHAP]

A resident in one of the seven villages hit by the wildfire received hospital treatment after inhaling smoke, but no other casualties were reported.

As of 3 p.m., 65 percent of the blaze had been extinguished, down from 70 percent at 10:30 a.m. The area affected by the wildfire had also expanded to 290 hectares.

The county office said two firefighters were found dead in the region. However, their identities and the causes of death remain unknown, it added.

Police and fire authorities plan to determine the exact cause after retrieving their bodies.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the site and ordered relevant agencies to make the utmost effort to mobilize all possible equipment and personnel to put out the blaze before sunset.

He also stressed the safety of residents and firefighters deployed to the scene, urging seamless preparations should the blaze continue overnight.

Authorities issued the highest response level to put out the blaze about three hours after the fire erupted at 3:26 p.m. Friday.

Authorities plan to determine the exact cause of the blaze after extinguishing it. A person who first reported the fire was confirmed to have said that a spark started the fire during mowing.

Meanwhile, the Korea Forest Service had raised the wildfire emergency level to its highest as of 3:30 p.m., with 16 wildfires reported nationwide amid strong winds.

BY PARK EUN-JEE, YONHAP [[email protected]]