A forest fire in Miryang, South Korea, has been ongoing for two days, with a containment rate of 70% and a goal to extinguish it by the morning of the 24th.
A forest fire broke out in Miryang, South Korea, on the afternoon of the 23rd and has continued into its second day. As of 8 AM on the 24th, the affected area of the fire has expanded to 134 hectares. The Korea Forest Service (KFS) reported that 70% of the flames had been controlled, with resources being fully mobilized while prioritizing the safety of nearby residents and considering the geographical features of the area. Firefighting actions have included deploying 34 helicopters, 159 firefighting vehicles, and 745 personnel.
The fire ignited at 4:11 PM on the 23rd in the mountains of Geomse-ri, Sangrangjin-eup, Miryang City. Due to the timing just before sunset, initial attempts to quell the fire with helicopters failed. In response, the KFS determined that the situation required national-level oversight, transferring command of firefighting operations to the mayor of Miryang at midnight. By early hours of the 24th, a phase two alert was issued for fire spread containment. Fortunately, all 184 nearby residents in areas including Antae, Yul-dong, and Geomse-ri were evacuated safely, leading to no reported injuries.
The KFS has affirmed its commitment to mobilize all available personnel and equipment to extinguish the main fire on the 24th. Additionally, the Korean Meteorological Administration has forecasted rainfall of 10 to 40 mm for Miryang and southern Gyeongsangnam-do, which could aid firefighting efforts.
