The area affected by wildfires has expanded... Forestry authorities "Preparing for a long-term battle"

Firefighters are working overnight on ground firefighting efforts at the Uljin wildfire site. Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Uljin) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The wildfire on the East Coast has continued for the fifth day, expanding the damage area. The wildfire in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, has spread to the boundary of the Geumgang Pine forest, creating an urgent situation, and the forestry authorities are preparing for a prolonged battle.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced on the 8th that the estimated forest damage (area affected by the wildfire) due to the East Coast wildfire is 21,772 hectares as of 6 a.m. on the 8th.

This is close to the damage area of the largest wildfire in history in the East Coast region in 2000, which was 23,794 hectares. It is more than one-third of the area of Seoul (60,500 hectares), 75.1 times the area of Yeouido (290 hectares, inside the embankment of Yunjung-ro), and equivalent to 34,930 soccer fields (0.714 hectares each).

Estimated damage includes 16,913 hectares in Uljin, 772 hectares in Samcheok, 1,900 hectares in Gangneung, and 2,100 hectares in Donghae. No casualties have been reported, but 570 facilities have been damaged by the wildfire.

The containment rates are 50% for Uljin and Samcheok, 90% for Gangneung and Donghae, and 60% and 40% for Yeongwol and Daegu Dalseong, respectively.

Forestry authorities plan to add helicopters to extinguish the fire around the Geumgang Pine area in Uljin after finishing wildfire suppression in Gangneung and Donghae, Gangwon Province.

In the early morning of the day, two fireballs entered the Geumgang Pine forest in Sogwang-ri, Geumgangsong-myeon. Forestry and firefighting authorities immediately mobilized personnel to extinguish the embers.

Not only in Sogwang-ri but throughout the Uljin area, Geumgang Pine forms a dense forest. At the morning regular briefing, Choi Byung-am, head of the Korea Forest Service, said, "The fire front is about 60 km long and the fire is intense, so frankly, we are preparing for a prolonged battle," adding, "We will use the boundary of the pine forest and National Route 36 as a defensive line to fight the fire."

Choi also said, "We have no choice but to select and concentrate. We will focus on extinguishing the Geumgang Pine forest in Sogwang-ri, the large pine trees, and the area around Eungbongsan to achieve results," and "Strategically, the wildfire may spread to some mountainous areas."

Regarding the timing of the main fire suppression, he said, "As the overall person in charge, it is difficult to predict," but explained, "The damage area including Gangneung is comparable to the 2000 East Coast wildfire area (23,794 hectares), which was suppressed after rain fell in 10 days."

Rain is forecasted in the Uljin area on the 13th.

Meanwhile, a 48-year-old rescue team member of the Chungnam Fire Headquarters' Rescue and Emergency Medical Service Division, who was supporting wildfire operations, was found dead at his home in Seosan, Chungnam, on the morning of the 6th.

This staff member had been deploying or supporting personnel and equipment from fire stations under the Chungnam Fire Headquarters to the wildfire site for the previous five days. The bereaved family claims death from overwork, and the police plan to investigate the exact cause of death through an autopsy on the same day.

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