18 helicopters fly over Busan mountain fire
Mt. Unbong in Haeundae-gu, Busan, is ablaze on Tuesday, forcing some 170 to evacuate and drawing over 1,600 rescue workers and helicopters to put out the fire. News1
The fire broke out near the entrance to Mt. Unbong behind Dong-Pusan Collge in Bansong-dong in Busan's Haeundae-gu, April 2. Newsis
The massive wildfire that burned through a mountain in the southern port city of Busan has mostly been contained, firefighters said Wednesday.
The Busan firefighting service said 90 percent of the flames were extinguished as of 7:45 a.m. and expects it should be able to fully contain the fire before this afternoon.
The blaze on Mount Woonbong near the popular Haeundae beach occurred at about 6 a.m. Tuesday and has destroyed some 20 hectares of forest, equivalent to the size of 28 football stadiums, the authorities said.
No casualties have been reported.
A helicopter extinguishes fire at Mt. Unbong in Busan's Haeundae-gu, Tuesday. Yonhap
Firefighters resumed their aerial operations early Wednesday to contain the fire, sending 18 rescue helicopters to the scene.
The fire appears to have spread further up to the mountain's top overnight, the firefighters said.
"We've nearly completed containing the fire on the mountain's foot and are trying to put out the flames before this afternoon," a firefighting official said earlier.
About 150 people close to the area and over 180 households were evacuated Tuesday.
The exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined. (Yonhap)