South Korea Battles “Worst Ever” Wildfires as Death Toll Climbs, Affected Area Doubles

South Korean authorities are grappling with unprecedented wildfires that have been declared the worst in the nation’s history, as the death toll continues to rise and the area affected by the blazes has doubled in size, Al Jazeera reports.

As of Thursday, at least 26 people have died as a result of the wildfires, which began late Friday in Sancheong county in Northern Gyeongsang province, according to local authorities. The fires have ravaged approximately 81,500 acres (33,000 hectares) of land, significantly exceeding the area burned in South Korea’s previous worst wildfire in March 2000, which scorched 59,000 acres (24,000 hectares).

“We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,” South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting, according to Reuters.

More than 120 helicopters have been deployed across several regions – including Gyeongbuk, Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Sancheong – to combat the fires, which have spread rapidly across mountainous terrain in the country’s southeast due to strong, dry winds.

While the meteorological agency has forecast rain, precipitation is expected to be minimal, with less than 5mm expected in most affected areas.

Government officials have attributed the cause of the fires to likely human error, citing potential man-made triggers such as the use of fire to clear overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding equipment. Authorities also noted that many affected areas have experienced only half the average rainfall this season, exacerbating the dry conditions.

Among the casualties, four firefighters and government workers died in Sancheong county, South Gyeongsang province, on Saturday after becoming trapped by fast-moving flames. A pilot also died when his helicopter crashed during firefighting efforts in a mountainous area of Uiseong.

Nearly 30,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes as the fires spread through neighborhoods, overwhelming firefighters as they battle multiple blazes simultaneously.

The fires have also damaged significant cultural heritage sites. Flames have engulfed half of the 30 structures comprising the Gounsa Buddhist temple in Uiseong county, including two state-designated “treasures” – a pavilion-shaped structure erected in 1668 and a Joseon Dynasty structure constructed in 1904.

Authorities have also issued an emergency alert for the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site Hahoe Folk Village in Andong county as the blaze continues to draw closer. Efforts to contain the wildfires are ongoing, with authorities focusing on protecting lives and preventing further damage to homes, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks.