Andong Wildfire Enters Third Day... Highway Traffic Resumes

Late at night on the 25th, a wildfire that occurred the previous day near Gohari and Danhori in Namhu-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongbuk, is spreading again across the entire area near Andong-si due to strong winds.<이미지:Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The forest fire in the Andong area of Gyeongbuk Province continued for the third day on the 26th.

According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government, the forest fire that started in the Pungcheon-myeon area on the afternoon of the 24th has spread, causing damage to approximately 100 hectares (estimated by Gyeongbuk Province) as of the morning of the 26th. The provincial government and firefighting authorities deployed 32 helicopters and over 3,400 personnel to the site from 6 a.m. on the 26th to resume firefighting efforts.

According to the Korea Forest Service, the main flames were initially extinguished around noon the previous day, but strong winds reignited the fire, turning it into a nighttime forest fire. Authorities evacuated about 1,000 local residents near the fire site to youth training centers and nearby accommodations. There have been no reported casualties so far.

As the fire crossed the highway, traffic on the Jungang Expressway section near Andong (Namandong IC to Seoandong IC) was suspended from 5 p.m. the previous day but resumed from the morning of the 26th.

Gyeongsangbuk-do and the forestry and fire authorities are inspecting the wildfire suppression operations around Andong on the 25th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.