President Moon Instructs "Full Measures for Evacuation of Goseong Residents... Mobilize All Firefighting Resources"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] President Moon Jae-in gave an urgent order regarding the wildfire that occurred in Goseong, Gangwon Province, saying, "Be thorough in evacuating residents, and make every effort to evacuate houses at the foot of the mountain and the elderly."

According to the Blue House on the 1st, President Moon emphasized, "Predict the direction of wildfire suppression and evacuate residents in the expected areas in advance if necessary," adding, "Since there are difficulties in extinguishing the fire at night, efforts should be made to delay the spread to residential areas, but special attention must also be paid to the safety of firefighting personnel."

He also ordered, "Be thorough in preparing to mobilize all firefighting resources such as helicopters so that the wildfire can be quickly extinguished at sunrise."

Earlier, around 8:04 p.m. on the 1st, a fire that started at a house in Dowon-ri, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province, spread to a nearby hill due to strong winds and has been rapidly expanding even after midnight on the 2nd.

About 420 residents in the Dowon-ri and Hakya-ri areas evacuated to nearby Cheonjin Elementary School gymnasium and other places, and three houses were burned down. About 1,800 soldiers from the Army's 22nd Division near the wildfire area are also evacuating. No casualties have been reported so far.

Goseong-gun and forestry and firefighting authorities are deploying personnel to extinguish the fire but are facing difficulties due to dry weather and strong winds.

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