East Coast Wildfire Causes Forest Damage 49 Times the Size of Yeouido... "7,374 Evacuated"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced that as of 11 a.m. on the 6th, an estimated 14,222 hectares of forest damage has occurred due to wildfires along the East Coast.

This area is equivalent to about 49 times the size of Yeouido (290 hectares, the area inside the Yunjungno embankment). In terms of soccer fields (0.714 hectares), it amounts to 19,918 times the size.

Forest damage occurred in Uljin with 11,661 hectares, Samcheok 656 hectares, Gangneung 1,656 hectares, and 169 hectares each in Donghae and Yeongwol.

There were no casualties. However, 463 facilities were destroyed, including 388 in Uljin, 12 in Gangneung, and 63 in Donghae.

Due to the wildfires, 4,663 households totaling 7,374 people are currently evacuated. Among them, 4,133 households with 6,482 people are in Uljin and Samcheok, and 380 households with 717 people are in Donghae.

Temporary shelters have been set up in 28 locations such as public facilities, village halls, and schools, where 885 households totaling 1,075 people (680 households with 753 people in Uljin and Samcheok, and 187 households with 302 people in Donghae) are staying.

The CDSCH explained that counselors?9 in Uljin, and 4 each in Samcheok and Donghae?have been dispatched to conduct 138 sessions of on-site psychological counseling for disaster victims.

For firefighting efforts, 89 helicopters and 834 vehicles including command cars, fire engines, and firefighting trucks are in operation. A total of 10,642 personnel including firefighters, police, coast guard, military, and public officials have been deployed.

The East Coast wildfires are divided into six ongoing fires: the Gyeongbuk Uljin to Gangwon Samcheok wildfire and the Gangwon Gangneung to Donghae wildfire. In addition to these areas, wildfires have also occurred in Yeongwol, Gangwon; Geumjeong, Busan; Ansan, Gyeonggi; and Dalseong, Daegu.

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