Forest fires raging in South Korea doubled in size on Monday from yesterday, with authorities calling them the worst disaster in the country's history, Reuters reported, BTA reports.
At least 26 people have died and the blaze has destroyed historic Buddhist temples. More than 33,000 hectares have been burned in the largest fire in the central part of the country, which is also the largest forest fire in South Korea's history.
“We are in a critical situation at the national level, with a number of casualties due to unprecedentedly fast-spreading forest fires“, Acting President Han Deok-soo told a cabinet meeting.
According to information from the government, more than 120 helicopters are involved in fighting the fire in three regions of the country. The army has provided aviation fuel supplies so that the helicopters can continue to participate in extinguishing the fires in the mountainous regions of the southeastern part of the country, which have been burning for almost a week.
Yesterday, a helicopter pilot died in a crash while extinguishing a fire.
The fires in the central part of the country are rapidly advancing eastward and have almost reached the coast. Windy and dry weather conditions are further complicating the situation.
The South Korean Meteorological Agency has forecast rain in the southwest of the country, but the amount will be less than five millimeters in most affected areas. "This rain is unlikely to help significantly in extinguishing the fire," the Ministry of Forestry said.
Experts say that fires in South Korea are spreading in an unusual way and at an extraordinary speed, predicting that forest fires will become more frequent and deadly due to climate change.