A wildfire in South Korea has killed one person and forced more than 4,000 people to flee their homes on Friday.
The fires broke out in eastern Gangwon Province on Thursday and spread to the cities of Sokcho and Gangneung, burning about 525 hectares (1,297 acres) and some 198 homes, warehouses and other buildings by early Friday.
One man in his 50s has been confirmed dead, and 11 have been injured, South Korea’s ministry of interior and safety said.
About 2,263 citizens were evacuated to gymnasiums and schools and 52 schools were closed.
The fire in the Sokcho region has been contained while about 50 per cent of the fire in the Gangneung region was contained.
President Moon Jae-in ordered the use of all available resources to extinguish the forest fires. He urged his government to declare a disaster area in the country's northeast, on Friday. "I urge the prime minister and the interior minister, who is at the scene, to look thoroughly at the situation and to consider quickly declaring the area a special disaster zone," Mr Moon said, according a statement from the presidential office.
Sustained winds as fast as 90km per hour have driven the fire. South Korea is vulnerable to wildfires due its topography of heavily forested areas on steep slopes, which can accelerate blazes and make them difficult to contain.
South Korea’s national fire agency said 872 fire trucks and 3,251 firefighters from all over the country are currently working to contain the wildfire.
The ministry of defence said 16,500 soldiers, 32 military helicopters and 26 military fire trucks have been deployed as well, and plans to provide meals for 6,800 people.
Some 4 billion won (€3.13 million) in special subsidies will be issued for containing the fires and cleaning up debris, along with 250 million won (€1.95 million) in disaster relief funds for temporary accommodation and daily necessities for evacuees.
The affected area was close to the country’s border with North Korea and within an hour’s drive from the site of last year’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The sparsely populated, mountainous area is popular among hikers and sightseers. –Rueters and Bloomberg