One man dead on mission to put out wildfires

By You Soo-sun

A helicopter crewmember, surnamed Cho, died Monday while on a mission to put out wildfires in Gangwon Province. He passed out as the aircraft made an emergency landing in Samcheok, and was pronounced dead after being transferred to a nearby hospital.

The Korea Forest Service (KFS) has been battling the fires that have spread in Samcheok and Gangneung in the eastern part of the country. Officials reported the fires in Samcheock as more difficult to fight, due to bad road conditions and them being located in higher mountainous areas.

Meanwhile, an evacuation order was issued earlier in the day for residents in Seongsan-myeon, Gangneung, as a fire reignited there. This came after the government’s announcement Sunday that the wildfires in the region, first detected Saturday, had been effectively contained.

Traffic near the area has been under police control since 9:20 p.m. Sunday, to prevent accidents on roads shrouded with smoke.

The evacuation order was given to residents of the affected areas at 3:29 a.m. Monday, followed by an emergency text message that read, “Mountain fire at Seongsan-myeon restarts; residents and nearby citizens should pay special caution to flames and smoke.”

The blaze broke out again last night near Daegwallyeong Museum, threatening nearby villages due to being driven by strong winds.

At least 6,300 soldiers have been deployed throughout the affected area to contain the fire Monday.

The wildfire first broke out on a hill near Daegwallyeong, a major mountain pass, Saturday. The government announced the fire in Gangneung had been completely contained the next day, but it later reignited.

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