Daegu Gachang Wildfire Hindered by Strong Winds... Firefighting and Rekindling Repeat for 8th Day

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The forest fire in Gachang-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, which has been burning for the eighth day while repeatedly reigniting, is intensifying due to strong winds. Forestry authorities are making every effort to prevent the fire from spreading.

According to the Daegu Fire Safety Headquarters on the 5th, five helicopters, eight vehicles including pump trucks, and about 60 personnel were deployed to extinguish the forest fire near Gwangdeoksa Temple in Yonggye-ri, Gachang-myeon, Dalseong-gun.

The fire department downgraded the response level to the initial stage of the forest fire around 7 a.m. the previous day, but the embers have intensified again due to strong winds with a peak instantaneous speed of about 15 m/s on this day.

The smoke from the forest fire is carried by the wind beyond Ap-san in Nam-gu, leading to a series of 119 emergency calls.

A fire official stated, "The fire occurred in areas with many slopes that are difficult for personnel to access, and firefighting resources are concentrated in Uljin and Samcheok, so it is taking more time to extinguish," but added, "Since the fire has not reached residential areas, there are no reported casualties."

It is estimated that about 11 hectares of forest have been burned so far. This forest fire started at 9:02 p.m. on the 26th of last month, was extinguished twice, but reignited again.

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