The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

  • 3

    Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations

  • 5

    TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map

  • 7

    Block Party returns to Yongsan for 2nd year

  • 9

    Koreans' happiness rising slowly but surely: presidential panel

  • 11

    Korea crashes out of medal contention in men's basketball

  • 13

    Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar

  • 15

    Traffic on major expressways eases on final day of holiday

  • 17

    Dong-A Socio Group’s honorary chairman passes away at 96

  • 19

    Lawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconduct

  • 2

    Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week

  • 4

    Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW

  • 6

    Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff

  • 8

    SEVENTEEN's unique approach to artistry: A deep dive into self-production and collaboration

  • 10

    Pilot dead after civilian helicopter crashes into reservoir in Pocheon

  • 12

    Korea wins gold medal in men's team Go

  • 14

    30 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member

  • 16

    Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales

  • 18

    Dream-pop band Nice Legs revisits Korea for Block Party

  • 20

    Gender ministry to expand educational support for children of multicultural families in 2024

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, October 5, 2023 | 04:20
Society
Wildfires destroy forests equal to 53 times area of Yeouido
Posted : 2022-03-06 16:20
Updated : 2022-03-06 20:05
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A firefighting helicopter puts out fires near Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sunday, as a series of wildfires have burned some 15,420 hectares of woodland over the weekend. Yonhap
A firefighting helicopter puts out fires near Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sunday, as a series of wildfires have burned some 15,420 hectares of woodland over the weekend. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Wildfires in the eastern region of Korea have burned approximately 15,420 hectares of forest as of Sunday afternoon, according Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

The burnt area is equivalent to 53 times the size of Seoul's Yeouido (290 hectares) ― or 21,597 soccer fields ― and the fire has destroyed over 463 structures.

More than 7,300 people have been evacuated in order to avoid the fires, though no casualties were reported. An 86-year-old woman was reported to have died while evacuating in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, but authorities are looking into the exact connection between her death and the wildfire.

Thousands flee their homes after wildfire engulfs Uljin county
Thousands flee their homes after wildfire engulfs Uljin county
2022-03-06 18:17  |  News

The UIjin blaze began on Friday morning near a mountain in Uljin County and spread north to Samcheok City in the afternoon. Five more wildfires broke out across the country in five different regions: Gangneung City and Yeongweol County in Gangwon Province, Geumjeong District in Busan City, Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province and Dalseong County in Daegu Metropolitan City.

The authorities have mobilized some 16,000 personnel, 834 firetrucks and 89 helicopters to contain the Uljin fire.

The fire had threatened Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin and the nation's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production complex in Samcheok, as well as power transmission lines in the areas, but firefighters contained the blaze before it reached the facilities and no fire damage has been reported at either yet.

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday visited a makeshift shelter in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, to check up on the situation and government support for the fire victims.

"The fastest way for the government to support the residents is to declare a special disaster zone and take part in the recovery efforts," Moon told the victims. He later gave the affected regions designation as special disaster zones, which guarantees state financial support for recovery work.

Meanwhile, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said some cultural properties have been damaged by the wildfires.

According to the CHA, Eodalsan Bongsudae, a fire signaling beacon from the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom in Gangwon Province, was harmed by the fire, but the extent of the damage has not yet been revealed since the authorities could not approach the site as of Sunday afternoon.

The CHA is also working to prevent additional fire damage to cultural and natural heritage sites including the Geumgang Pine Habitat of Uljin, as well as Uljin's Silla-era Buryeong Temple which houses five state-designated cultural properties, and Buryeong Valley around the temple, designated as a Scenic Site.



Emailmeeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1POSCO Future M, LG Chem, EcoPro BM hit by plunging lithium, nickel prices POSCO Future M, LG Chem, EcoPro BM hit by plunging lithium, nickel prices
2Gangnam gears up for festival showcasing various K-culture events Gangnam gears up for festival showcasing various K-culture events
3North Korea lays groundwork for US disarmament talks: experts North Korea lays groundwork for US disarmament talks: experts
4South Korea to found cyberwarfare reserve forces in 2025 South Korea to found cyberwarfare reserve forces in 2025
5Samsung targets mid-range market with affordable S23 FE Samsung targets mid-range market with affordable S23 FE
6Bank of Korea takes first step to adopt centralized digital currency Bank of Korea takes first step to adopt centralized digital currency
7Seoul's parks abuzz with fall festivals Seoul's parks abuzz with fall festivals
8Task force planned to prevent opinion-rigging on Daum portal Task force planned to prevent opinion-rigging on Daum portal
9Seoul to invest W5 tril. to become fintech powerhouse Seoul to invest W5 tril. to become fintech powerhouse
10Seoul stocks tumble on concerns over Fed's prolonged monetary tighteningSeoul stocks tumble on concerns over Fed's prolonged monetary tightening
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October
2Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport
3[PHOTOS] Kep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans PHOTOSKep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans
428th BIFF opens with star-studded red carpet event28th BIFF opens with star-studded red carpet event
5TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group