Urgent Efforts to Protect Lives and Heritage as Wildfires Devastate South Korea<br />Firefighters in South Korea are battling the country’s most devastating wildfire on record, working tirelessly to safeguard both lives and priceless historical artifacts.<br /><br />According to the country’s interior ministry, the disaster has already claimed at least 27 lives, making it the deadliest wildfire in South Korean history. Another 32 individuals have sustained injuries, some of them critical. Many of those who perished were elderly, primarily in their 60s and 70s, local officials report.<br /><br />The blaze, which ignited nearly a week ago in Sancheong County, is believed to have been triggered by human activities. Strong, dry winds have since fueled its rapid spread, engulfing multiple neighboring areas, including Uiseong County, where the largest fire is currently burning. Authorities suspect that a fire ignited while visitors tended to a family grave, with video evidence revealing a lighter at the scene. Other possible causes include welding sparks and waste burning.<br /><br />So far, the wildfires have consumed over 35,810 hectares (88,500 acres) of land—an area roughly half the size of New York City. In response, cultural institutions have relocated significant artifacts, including wooden printing blocks and paintings, from historic temples. Officials are also monitoring potential threats to two UNESCO-listed sites, Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Seowon in Andong City.<br /><br />Among the cultural losses, the Gounsa temple, originally built in 618 AD, has been completely destroyed. Additionally, forestry officials have confirmed the loss of a Buddhist architectural structure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), which was designated as a national treasure.<br /><br />Authorities have ordered tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, with many struggling to obtain clear information. Kwon Young-chang, a resident of Andong, described how smoke forced him to flee north to Yecheon. "The destruction in Andong is heartbreaking, and many of our neighbors who have lost everything are in despair," he said.<br /><br />Others have shared similar stories of devastation. One Andong resident recounted how her family’s home of more than 30 years was reduced to ashes within hours. "There’s nothing left. You wouldn’t even recognize where the house once stood," she lamented.<br /><br />Jang Jung-suk, a resident of Cheongsong County, saw her beekeeping business—something she and her husband had worked on for five years—completely wiped out. "We returned after evacuating, only to find our home damaged and our livelihood gone," she shared. "My husband couldn’t hold back his tears."<br /><br />While wildfires are typically sparked by human activity, weather conditions have played a major role in their intensity. Unusually high temperatures, strong winds, low humidity, and dry terrain have created the perfect conditions for the flames to spread uncontrollably.
