Hadong Wildfire 46% Contained... 699 People Struggle in Darkness

A wildfire that broke out around 1:34 PM on the 11th in Hwagae-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is currently 46% contained as of 8 PM.

According to the forestry authorities and Gyeongnam Province, the wildfire is rapidly spreading due to continuous dry weather and sudden gusts of wind reaching about 8 m/s at the site.

Although helicopters were deployed early, the steep slopes covered with coniferous forests and the distant reservoirs, along with narrow roads, are making it difficult for personnel and equipment to access the area.

The affected area of the wildfire was 20 hectares around 2 PM, 50 hectares as of 3:10 PM, and exceeded 71 hectares after 6 PM.

As of 7 PM, the affected area reached 85 hectares, with the fire front approximately 4.1 km away.

Smoke is rising from a fire in a nearby mountain in Hwagae-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters]

At the site, 31 helicopters and 34 fire engines deployed by the Korea Forest Service, Gyeongnam Province, the county, and fire departments, along with 18 firefighting vehicles, special firefighting squads, firefighters, and police totaling 699 personnel, are engaged in firefighting operations.

Nearby residents in Uisin and Dancheong villages have completed evacuation, and no casualties or property damage have been reported.

Gyeongnam Province is analyzing the wildfire’s spread using infrared night drones for nighttime firefighting operations and has organized firefighting zones.

Each zone is assigned firefighting vehicles, fire trucks, and five types of personal firefighting equipment such as backpack pumps, with personnel divided accordingly.

The province aims to fully extinguish the main fire by the morning of the 12th and plans to mobilize all available helicopters, including 26 firefighting helicopters, at sunrise.

They will strengthen management around residential areas and nearby facilities and focus on safety management for residents, visitors, and firefighting personnel at the scene.

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