SEOUL, March 7 (BNA) Firefighting authorities on Monday mobilized all available manpower and equipment to contain major fires in eastern coastal areas hit by massive wildfires for the fourth day, as strong winds there showed signs of fading.
Wildfires caused by high winds amid drought conditions have burned an estimated 16,755 hectares of forest, the size of 23,466 football fields, in Uljin, 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and adjacent coastal areas as of 6 a.m. Monday, according to Central Disasters. The seat of safety countermeasures.
No injuries were reported, but the forest fires damaged 512 facilities, including 343 homes, the agency said, noting that the affected areas also include Samcheok, Gangneung, Donghae, Yeongyeol and Dalseong in Daegu.
She added that 7,355 people from 4,659 families in the regions had been evacuated as of nine o’clock on Sunday evening.
The agency said firefighting rates had reached 40 percent in Uljin and Samcheok districts, 80 percent in Gangneung, 50 percent in Yonggyeol, and 40 percent in Dalseong as of 5 a.m. Monday, noting that about 18,000 One firefighter, 95 helicopters and 781 vehicles. It was reported by the South Korean News Agency (Yonhap).
The fire started Friday morning in Ulgen and quickly spread north to Samchuk in the afternoon, driven by strong winds of nearly 30 miles per second.
On Monday, authorities considered the best opportunity to put out the bushfires, as winds were weakly blowing 1 to 2 miles per second on the east coast and 0.5 miles per second in Yonggyeol. The wind speed also decreased to 3 to 4 meters in the Uljin area.
Authorities said they aimed to put out major fires during the day as weather conditions are expected to worsen from Tuesday afternoon, when easterly winds will blow.
“Today’s firefighting efforts are focused on containing major fires, but it is difficult to say that all fires can be put out during the day,” Choi Byung Am, head of the Korea Forest Service, said at a press conference.
“With easterly winds blowing as of Tuesday afternoon, major fires should be brought under control before then,” he said.
The government on Sunday designated the eastern coastal areas devastated by massive wildfires as a special disaster area and pledged rapid support to the victims.
HF