South Korea struggles to control more than 20 major forest fires that broke out over the weekend

A house burned down by a forest fire in Uiseong, 180km southeast of the South Korean capital Seoul. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)

South Korea is struggling to control large forest fires in the country's southeast, as more than 20 fires have broken out since last weekend, killing four people, injuring six, forcing thousands to evacuate, and causing heavy damage to infrastructure.

The causes of the forest fires are believed to have come from sparks from lawn mowers and grave-visiting activities, along with dry weather conditions and strong winds that caused the fires to spread widely and quickly.

The fire in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, spread to Okjong Town, Hadong County.

According to Yonhap news agency, starting from the morning of March 24, local authorities deployed 36 helicopters to South Gyeongsang province, about 250km southeast of Seoul, to extinguish forest fires.

A total of 2,341 firefighters and soldiers have been deployed to prevent the wildfire from spreading to homes and facilities.

The Defense Department said about 1,350 troops from the Army, Marines and Air Force, as well as 35 helicopters, were mobilized to help extinguish the wildfires and provide medical aid.

As of the morning of March 24, firefighters had extinguished 70% of the forest fires in Sancheong.

Meanwhile, in several areas of western Japan, forest fires injured at least two people, forced dozens of residents to evacuate and damaged several homes while hundreds of firefighters battled blazes spreading in mountainous areas.

According to information from authorities, the forest fire that broke out on March 23 in Okayama province burned about 250 hectares of land in Okayama and Tamano cities./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/han-quoc-no-luc-kiem-soat-hon-20-dam-chay-rung-lon-bung-phat-cuoi-tuan-qua-post1022379.vnp