At least 24 people have been killed in the wildfires raging across South Korea’s southeastern region. A firefighting helicopter crashed on Wednesday, killing its pilot. The blazes have forced over 27,000 people to flee their homes and damaged more than 15,000 hectares of land.
The Uiseong fire, which is only 68% contained, has spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry weather. Climate change projections suggest that large-scale wildfires will become more frequent globally. The incident highlights the need for increased resources and trained manpower to combat such disasters.
A firefighting helicopter crashed while trying to extinguish a blaze in Uiseong county, killing its pilot. The cause of the accident is being investigated. Authorities have deployed over 10,000 firefighters, including hundreds of police officers and military units, to fight the blazes.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/death-toll-south-korea-wildfires-rises-15-yonhap-says-2025-03-25