The area damaged by wildfires this year has reached 12 times that of last year, raising concerns about large-scale disasters as dry weather is expected to persist.
This year, the area damaged by wildfires in South Korea has alarmingly increased to twelve times the amount impacted last year. The government has issued warnings as the continued dry weather conditions point towards a growing risk of significant wildfires, similar to the one that devastated areas in North Gyeongsang Province last spring, which scorched an area one and a half times the size of Seoul. The recent uptick in wildfire incidents has prompted government agencies such as the Ministry of Interior and Safety to hold emergency meetings to evaluate prevention and response strategies.
From January 1 to February 18 of this year, a total of 111 wildfires were reported, nearly doubling the 63 fires recorded in the same period last year. The damage inflicted has surged to approximately 255.93 hectares, in stark contrast to the mere 21.06 hectares affected during the same timeframe last year. As dry warnings are currently in effect across multiple regions including Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Daegu, and Busan, agencies anticipate that these conditions will continue.
In light of the looming wildfire threat, Kim Kwang-yong, the head of the disaster safety management office, urged the public to exercise caution and refrain from burning garbage or debris in forest-adjacent areas. He emphasized the importance of immediate reporting of any signs of smoke or fire to local firefighting authorities or hotline services. The government's focus will be on enhancing prevention measures and initial response capabilities as the spring season—characterized by increased wildfire risks—approaches.
