South Korea is battling with the largest wildfires in its history as emergency responders are battling to save people and ancient artefacts, while at least 27 people have been killed and videos of the wildfires are going viral on social media.
Historic temples are getting incinerated due to the raging wildfires, as a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple, Unramsa, was burnt as flames swept across the Cheondeungsan mountain.
A video showed firefighters running to douse the wildfires in the forest area with huge flames and plumes of smoke gathering the entire region as it becomes more difficult for emergency responders to contain the country’s worst ever wildfires.
BREAKING: South Korea Battles Worst Wildfire Disaster in History..
Death toll rises to 26
A devastating wildfire in South Korea has doubled in size, claiming at least 26 lives, with the first reported death on Thursday, and incinerating historic temples.
– Over 33,000 hectares… pic.twitter.com/wFe6tp46Yy
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) March 27, 2025
A Reuters report suggests that over 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) have either been charred or are still under the fire due to the wildfires which began in the central Uiseong county. It has become the largest wildfire, beating the previous record of 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) which took in March 2000.
South Korea’s deadliest wildfire has claimed 24 lives, including a firefighting helicopter pilot. pic.twitter.com/dIAPc9XmMv
— TaiwanPlus News (@taiwanplusnews) March 27, 2025
South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response team that “We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,” Reuters reported.
Due to the mountainous terrain of South Korea, the country relies on helicopters to fight the wildfires and the safety ministry has said that more than 120 helicopters have been deployed in three regions. However, a helicopter pilot died in a crash on Wednesday while trying to tackle a blaze.
The administration has not revealed the details of those who died in the wildfires other than they were mostly aged 60 or above as they found it difficult to escape the wildfire swiftly.
South Korean government’s deputy head of disaster response center, Lee Han-kyung, said the wildfires have again disclosed “the reality of climate crisis that we have yet experienced,” AP reported quoting Yonhap news agency.
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