The Yeongdeok wildfire, thought to be extinguished, reignites and spreads rapidly with strong west winds... Highest response level 3 issued

Around 7 p.m. on the 16th, flames continued to spread in the mountains of Yeongdeok-eup, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] In Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk, a wildfire that was thought to have been extinguished the previous day has reignited overnight, spreading rapidly with strong winds.

Fire authorities have issued the highest response level this year, Wildfire Level 3, and deployed a special wildfire suppression team to carry out firefighting operations.

The Yeongdeok wildfire, with flames up to 500 meters wide and stretching 3 kilometers, has engulfed forest land equivalent to 150 soccer fields as of 9 p.m. on the 16th.

According to the Korea Forest Service and Gyeongbuk Province on the 16th, the wildfire reignited around 2 a.m. in the hills near Hwacheon-ri, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk, where it had been extinguished the previous day.

The wildfire spread with strong westerly winds to the adjacent Hwasu-ri area, burning an estimated 100 hectares (300,000 pyeong) of forest land, according to the Korea Forest Service.

So far, no casualties have been reported, but about 100 people, including residents of Hwasu 1 and 2-ri and patients at a nearby nursing home, are evacuating to the village hall and other nursing hospitals.

The Korea Forest Service and fire authorities are continuing overnight firefighting operations with 30 wildfire suppression helicopters and over 1,200 special wildfire suppression personnel.

On-site, strong winds with an average speed of 5 to 6 meters per second and gusts up to 12 meters per second are making firefighting efforts very difficult.

As the wildfire spreads, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol have issued urgent orders to "mobilize all available personnel and focus all efforts on firefighting."

The Fire Agency issued a Wildfire Level 3 response in the afternoon. Level 3 is the highest response level, issued when the expected damage exceeds 100 hectares and the average wind speed is over 7 meters per second.

Additionally, a nationwide mobilization order has been issued, deploying firefighting personnel and equipment such as pump trucks and water tankers from eight cities and counties including Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongnam to the wildfire site.

An integrated command center for the wildfire site has also been established, and command authority has been transferred from Lee Hee-jin, Mayor of Yeongdeok County, to Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province.

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