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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Firefighters battle 'severe' South Korean wildfire

Firefighters battle 'severe' South Korean wildfire

Published Mar 5, 2022 07:47 pm

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea deployed thousands of firefighters and issued its highest fire hazard warning Saturday as a large wildfire torn through the country's eastern coastal region.

Some 6,000 people were forced to flee their homes as the fire, which started early Friday on a mountain in the seaside town of Uljin, spread to the nearby city of Samcheok and beyond.

A wildfire burns mountain forests in the seaside town of Uljin on March 5, 2022, as a large wildfire torn through the country's eastern coastal region. (YONHAP / AFP)

Officials issued a "severe" fire hazard warning over the blaze, which has destroyed nearly 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) of woodland.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.

As of Saturday afternoon, authorities had deployed more than 3,000 firefighters, as well as 57 helicopters and 273 vehicles, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS).

Firefighters walk through the smoke and haze from a wildfire in Uljin on March 5, 2022, as a large wildfire torn through the country's eastern coastal region. (YONHAP / AFP)

The blaze had briefly threatened a nuclear power station and a liquified natural gas plant Friday, but the facilities were now safe with emergency services deployed on site to keep them protected, officials said.

Of the thousands who fled their homes, nearly 700 had been able to return as of Saturday.

A wildfire destroys houses in Donghae on March 5, 2022, as a large wildfire torn through the country's eastern coastal region. (YONHAP / AFP)

However, at least 116 homes have been destroyed, KFS said.

The national railway operator has suspended one of its train routes in the eastern coastal region.

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