South Korea Wildfires Claim 25 Lives and Displace 30,000
Thousands of firefighters and helicopters are battling the nation's third-largest wildfires, with cultural landmarks destroyed and hopes for rain offering potential relief.
- The death toll from South Korea's wildfires has risen to at least 25, including a helicopter pilot who died in a crash during firefighting operations.
- Over 40,000 hectares of land have burned, making the fires the third-largest in the country's history, with 30,000 residents evacuated.
- The thousand-year-old Gounsa Temple has been destroyed, and UNESCO-listed Hahoe Village remains at risk as evacuation orders continue.
- Prolonged drought and strong winds, exacerbated by climate change, have intensified the fires, complicating containment efforts for over 6,700 personnel and 140 helicopters.
- The South Korean government has declared a state of emergency in four regions, with light rain in the forecast providing a glimmer of hope for relief.
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