State of Emergency in South Korea: Wildfires kill at least 24 and force tens of thousands to evacuate
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UPDATED MARCH 26, 2025
South Korea has been affected by a severe wildfire outbreak since Friday March 21, 2025, with over 20 reported fires in various parts of the nation.
According to several international media, at least 24 people have been killed in the escalating wildfires in South Korea, including at least 3 firefighters.
A helicopter used for firefighting has reportedly crashed on Wednesday, killing the pilot.
The numbers of evacuated vary from different sources, however Reuters.com writes that more than 27,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
The BBC writes that additionally, 26 people are injured, with 12 in critical condition, referring to national authorities.
CNN reports that the pilot lost their life after a firefighting helicopter, deployed to battle a rapidly spreading wildfire in Uiseong County, crashed. This region is situated over 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Seoul, as reported by local fire authorities.
According to Wikipedia, as many as 27 people had lost their lives in the fires by Wednesday March 26
More links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_2025_South_Korea_wildfires
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154083/outbreak-of-fire-across-south-korea
Photo Credits: Wikipedia Commons License
Cover Photo: Forest fire in Uiseong, north Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. By Unknown author - https://m.news.nate.com/view/20250326n19715, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162828956
Map: By National Aeronautics and Space Administration https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154083/outbreak-of-fire-across-south-k…, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162822828
Firefighter by TV screen: By 경상남도, KOGL Type 1, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162619353
Chungnam Wildfire Emergency Meeting: By 충청남도 자치안전실 안전기획관 사회재난과 - https://www.chungnam.go.kr/cnportal/cnapcPressList/cnapcPress/view.do?nttId=215…, KOGL Type 1, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162825990
THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED
Original post on March 24, 2025:
South Korea declares State of Emergency after large wildfires that killed at least two firefighters
The South Korean government has declared a state of emergency due to massive wildfires in the southeastern part of the country, according to the Yonhap news agency. At least four people have died, including at least two firefighters.
The devastating wildfires have claimed several lives in South Korea. Among the worst-affected areas are the city of Ulsan and the municipality of Sancheong.
Korea Times wrote on Monday that South Korea has experienced approximately 50 wildfires occurring simultaneously across the nation. These events have intensified calls for enhanced preparedness and prevention measures, as extreme fire incidents linked to climate change become increasingly common worldwide.
By Monday, wildfires that erupted over the weekend had damaged more than 8,700 hectares of forest—an area equivalent to 12,300 football field, according to the Korea Forest Service.
The fires have resulted in at least four fatalities and displaced over 2,700 residents, primarily in the southeastern parts of the country. Over 6,500 personnel have been mobilized to combat the fires.
The most critical wildfire, which ignited on Friday in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, had been 70 percent contained as of Monday. More than 2,500 firefighters worked tirelessly overnight to manage the situation.
On Saturday, a fire agency official told AFP that “two firefighters have been found dead, while two individuals are remaining missing”, writes Ary news.
MSN.com wrote on March 22 that two firefighters have been confirmed dead, while a third firefighter and a government employee are still missing after being caught in rapidly advancing fire fuelled by strong winds in the region. Rescuers managed to save five emergency workers, who are currently receiving medical care for their injuries, according to the provincial government.
The Korea Forest Service reported that wildfires have also impacted several regions in the central and southern provinces.
The Korea Forest Service reports that wildfire incidents in the country have surged dramatically, leading to a five-fold increase in the affected area between 2015 and 2024. In total, the damage has reached 403,317 hectares over this period.
This escalation reflects a broader global trend. According to NASA, extreme wildfire activity has more than doubled worldwide in the past two decades, with fires becoming increasingly frequent, intense, and large in scale.