Deadly wildfires in South Korea cause unprecedented damage

Wednesday 26 March 2025 - 11:10

By: Zahouani Ilham

Deadly wildfires in South Korea cause unprecedented damage

At least 24 people have lost their lives in some of the most devastating wildfires in South Korea’s history. The fires, which have spread rapidly, have caused severe destruction and exceeded all previous forecasts.

A representative from the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that "24 people have died, and 12 others are seriously injured," noting that these figures remain provisional.

Earlier in the day, a helicopter deployed to combat the wildfires crashed in a mountainous area in Uiseong County. The pilot, who perished in the accident, was included in the official death toll.

Since the weekend, thousands of firefighters have been battling more than ten separate fires that have already consumed thousands of hectares. Residents forced to evacuate described fleeing their homes with nothing as the flames spread rapidly due to strong winds.

Unprecedented Destruction

Acting President Han Duck-soo described the wildfires as having caused "unprecedented damage" and emphasized that they are "spreading in ways that exceed existing predictive models." In response, he raised the national alert level to its highest and announced a full-scale national response.

Residents have been making desperate attempts to protect their homes. One farmer, Cho Jae-oak, recounted how he and his wife sprayed water around their house in a futile effort to keep the flames at bay.

The combination of dry weather and strong winds has forced authorities to evacuate nearly 23,000 people, including thousands of prisoners. An emergency alert was also issued for residents of Hahoe, a UNESCO-listed historic village, which remains under serious threat.

A Critical Situation

More than 17,000 hectares of forest have burned, surpassing the 16,000 hectares destroyed by the severe Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. Acting President Han described the situation as "critical."

Hundreds of soldiers have been mobilized to assist in firefighting efforts, with the U.S. military providing helicopter support from its bases in South Korea. These reinforcements join over 6,700 firefighters already deployed, with a significant portion focusing on Uiseong.

Authorities suspect that one of the fires may have been started accidentally by an individual maintaining a family burial site.

The increasing frequency of wildfires is linked to climate change, as rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and decreased rainfall create ideal conditions for such disasters. South Korea has experienced abnormally dry weather, with below-average rainfall. The southern part of the country has already faced twice as many wildfires this year compared to 2024.

Last year was the hottest on record in South Korea, with an average annual temperature of 14.5°C—two degrees higher than the previous 30-year average—according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.