Hundreds of South Koreans were forced to flee a raging wildfire on Tuesday, as strong winds fueled the flames and destroyed dozens of homes in the eastern coastal city of Gangneung. More than 2,300 firefighters and 300 vehicles were dispatched to the scene, according to officials.
The fire originated on a mountain in the central part of Gangneung, and quickly spread to nearby homes and buildings. Around 70 structures were destroyed in total, and over 400 residents were evacuated to various facilities, including an ice-skating arena and a middle school gym. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
As of 2:10 p.m. local time, firefighters had managed to extinguish approximately 65% of the fire. However, it remained unclear how long it would take to fully bring the flames under control, as the high winds made it difficult to deploy water-dropping aircraft.
The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that winds in the Gangneung area were blowing as hard as 103 kilometers (64 miles) per hour as of Tuesday afternoon. The strong winds also forced railroad operators to cancel at least a dozen passenger trains between Gangneung and other eastern coastal cities, such as Donghae and Samcheok.
The fire covered more than 370 hectares (914 acres), and firefighters were working to establish barriers and prevent the flames from spreading to more populated areas of Gangneung. Photos from the scene showed firefighters spraying water toward burning homes and buildings, and large, orange flames engulfing a pine forest near a seaside resort hotel.
In response to the wildfire, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed officials to deploy "all available equipment and personnel" to swiftly extinguish the blaze and evacuate residents to prevent the loss of life. The Korea Forest Service and the Gangwon provincial government were also involved in the firefighting efforts.
Wildfires are not uncommon in South Korea, particularly during the dry, windy months of spring. However, the severity of this particular fire and the high winds made it a particularly challenging situation for responders. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and work to contain the flames.
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