Wildfires in South Korea Claim 28 Lives Over One Week | Environment News

Five out of 11 major wildfires have been contained after rainfall improves firefighting conditions.

Wildfires that have been raging across South Korea since last Friday have claimed at least 28 lives, injured dozens more, and scorched approximately 48,000 hectares (118,000 acres) of forest, according to the local news agency Yonhap.

However, improved visibility and cooler temperatures following overnight rainfall on Thursday have enhanced firefighting conditions against the blazes, which were driven by strong winds from central Uiseong county to coastal regions.

Al Jazeera’s Jack Barton, reporting from Uiseong, stated, “It’s too early to call it a turning point, but of the 11 major fires that were raging, five have been completely contained overnight.

“And while some are still burning intensely, we are seeing good results in places like Uiseong. Fires are down to 5 percent of what they were,” he added.

Nevertheless, around 38,000 residents have been forced to evacuate the affected areas, according to the government’s disaster response agency.

“We plan to mobilize all available resources to extinguish the main flames by the end of the day,” said Lim Sang-seop, chief of the Korea Forest Service, in an interview with Yonhap.

Officials noted that the fires have been fueled by dry winds and a prolonged drought. Wildfires are not uncommon in South Korea during dry periods.

In recent years, both average temperatures and extreme weather events have increased in the country, significantly raising the risk and severity of fires.

Experts view the increase in wildfires as a sign of the ongoing effects of climate change.

Al Jazeera’s Barton reported that “many houses and farms across this area [around Uiseong] have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and remain displaced.

“South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo assured that ‘all efforts will be taken’ to help people access financial resources to rebuild their homes. He emphasized that funds should be limitless,” Barton said.

“Local governments are saying they will try to move evacuees out of temporary tent camps as quickly as possible. However, it will be a long process,” he added.