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4w ago

South Korea Battles Reignited Wildfires as Death Toll Rises to 29

Despite improved conditions containing 85% of the fires, flare-ups in Andong highlight ongoing challenges in the nation's largest wildfire disaster.

Family members of village leader Kwon and his wife, who were killed in the fire while travelling back to their village to rescue other people during a wildfire, mourn at Kwon's house in Yeongyang, South Korea, March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Kun Yeong-nam, 72, looks around her burnt house, in which she lived in for 52 years, after a wildfire devastated the area in Uiseong, South Korea March 27, 2025.REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
A burnt vehicle, in which a village leader Kwon and his wife were found dead while they were on their way back to their village to rescue other people during a wildfire, lies on the side of a road, in Yeongyang, South Korea, March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Overview

  • The wildfires, which began on March 21 in Uiseong County, have burned over 48,000 hectares, making them the largest in South Korea's history.
  • Light rain and cooler temperatures have aided containment efforts, with 85% of the fires now under control, but flare-ups were reported in Andong on March 29.
  • The disaster has claimed 29 lives, displaced over 30,000 residents, and destroyed thousands of homes, factories, and cultural heritage sites, including the 1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple.
  • South Korea’s aging rural population has been disproportionately affected, with many victims and evacuees in their 60s and 70s, underscoring vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness.
  • Government officials have pledged to overhaul wildfire response strategies, focusing on night-time firefighting capabilities and evacuation protocols for elderly populations.