Heo Eun-a "Wildfires Must Be Prepared for Annually Like Flood Damage"

Following the wildfire that occurred in Gangneung on the 11th, spreading rapidly with strong winds and burning areas of mountains and residential neighborhoods, awareness about wildfires has heightened. Amid this, there is a call to treat wildfires as a disaster that requires constant preparedness, similar to flood damage during the summer monsoon season.

On the 12th, Heo Eun-ah, a member of the People Power Party, stated through social media (SNS), "More important than taking follow-up measures such as designating a ‘special disaster area’ after a wildfire occurs is to shift the perception of wildfires to a disaster that requires annual, constant preparedness, like flood damage during the midsummer monsoon season."

She analyzed, "This wildfire, like the wildfires in Samcheok and Gangneung, Goseong and Sokcho, and the second largest damage-causing wildfire in Uljin and Samcheok, is believed to have been caused by localized strong winds," adding, "Although it is an unexpected natural disaster, wildfires on the East Coast have become no longer unusual."

She continued, "The best approach is like a doctor who prevents illness by managing health before sickness occurs; next is to intervene early when a minor illness arises to prevent it from worsening; and treating a severe illness only after it has developed is the least desirable," emphasizing, "It is time to change the national perception of disasters and establish a more thorough constant wildfire preparedness system."

The wildfire that caused massive damage in the Gangneung area on the 11th was brought under control within about eight hours, but concerns about re-ignition remain. The wildfire destroyed 379 hectares of forest, damaged 72 houses and pensions, and forced 557 residents and others to evacuate.

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