Wildfire in Miryang, Gyeongnam... National Wildfire Crisis Alert Raised to 'Severe'

30 Military Helicopters and Others Deployed for Firefighting
Korea Forest Service Issues Evacuation Order to 476 Residents in 100 Households

A wildfire that broke out on the afternoon of the 31st in Chunhwa-ri, Bubuk-myeon, Miryang-si, Gyeongnam is spreading with the wind. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] On the morning of the 31st, a wildfire broke out in Miryang, Gyeongnam, and is spreading. Fire authorities have issued a 'Wildfire Level 3' alert and are making every effort to extinguish it.

The Korea Forest Service Central Wildfire Control Headquarters issued a Wildfire Level 3 alert and a national crisis warning for wildfire disaster at the 'Severe' level around 11:45 a.m. to mobilize all firefighting resources to extinguish the wildfire that started around 9:25 a.m. in San 13-31, Chunhwa-ri, Bubuk-myeon, Miryang-si, Gyeongnam.

With the issuance of the Wildfire Level 3 alert, the integrated command authority at the wildfire site was transferred from the Mayor of Miryang to the Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Province. Since the position of Governor of Gyeongnam Province is currently vacant, Ha Byungpil, the Acting Governor and Deputy Governor, is in charge of on-site command.

The forestry authorities have currently deployed 32 helicopters and 1,552 firefighters to the site for firefighting. However, the atmosphere is dry enough for a dry weather advisory to be issued in the Miryang area, and with strong winds blowing at a momentary speed of 11 m/s, the authorities are facing difficulties in extinguishing the fire.

The Korea Forest Service helicopter is extinguishing a forest fire that occurred in Chunhwa-ri, Bubuk-myeon, Miryang-si, Gyeongnam Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Miryang City has issued evacuation orders to residents of Bubuk-myeon, Chunhwa-ri, Muyeon-ri, and Wiyang-ri. The Korea Forest Service has also issued evacuation orders to 476 residents of 100 households near the wildfire area.

The wind is blowing northward, causing the wildfire to spread more toward the mountain summit rather than down the mountain. Smoke is spreading here and there carried by the wind, and smoke is visible even in Samrangjin, Miryang, which is relatively distant.

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