The fire has burned about 36,000 hectares (94,000 acres), making it the worst in the country's history, surpassing the 23,794 hectares (54,000 acres) burned by a forest fire on the east coast in 2000, according to Yonhap. About 37,000 people have been displaced, mostly in the Uiseong and Andong areas of North Gyeongsang Province. Some areas in Andong have been without water for two days, forcing authorities to provide water and emergency assistance. Nearly 2,500 homes have lost power.
Firefighters put out a fire at a farm in the Useong area on March 27.
Acting President Han Duck-soo has ordered acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong to stay in North Gyeongsang Province to oversee relief efforts until the fire is brought under control. "It is worrying that many of the victims are elderly people, including patients at nursing homes," Han said. Firefighters are using helicopters and fire trucks to contain the spreading blaze, which broke out on March 21 in Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province and spread to neighboring areas.
South Korea: Forest fire burns down ancient temple, prison evacuated
A special committee of the ruling People's Power Party on March 27 called on the government to designate additional special disaster zones to strengthen forest fire response and support affected residents. Lawmaker Lee Man-hee, chairman of the committee, urged the government to use a special disaster relief fund, estimated at 500 billion won (US$396 million), to quickly support the affected areas. Leader of the opposition Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung visited the affected area in North Gyeongsang Province yesterday and pledged to "do everything possible in the National Assembly " to strengthen relief for the victims.
Regarding the forest fire situation in Japan, The Japan Times reported on March 27 that fires in Ehime and Okayama prefectures have burned more than 900 hectares after breaking out on March 23. More than 3,800 households in Ehime and nearly 1,100 households in Okayama have been ordered to evacuate. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has been mobilized to fight the fire along with firefighters.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chay-rung-toi-te-nhat-lich-su-han-quoc-185250327223732383.htm
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