Korea Forest Service Urgently Assesses Large Wildfire Damage Area... "Preventing Secondary Damage"

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 31st that it will dispatch an 'Emergency Assessment Team for Forest Fire Damage Areas' to large-scale forest fire damage sites in Ulsan and Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk provinces.

An emergency assessment team is discussing the on-site investigation process at the large wildfire damage site in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. Photo by Korea Forest Service

The emergency assessment team, composed of the Korea Landslide Engineering Association, a specialized institution in landslide fields, and private experts, will conduct urgent assessments focusing on forest fire damage areas where secondary damage such as landslides is a concern. The team will establish restoration plans for the damaged areas and promote prompt recovery.

The target areas include 8 regions: Ulju-gun in Ulsan City; Uiseong, Andong, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok in Gyeongbuk; and Sancheong and Hadong in Gyeongnam. The emergency assessment team will analyze video data using satellite imagery and drones to comprehensively assess the intensity of forest fire damage.

In particular, on-site investigations will focus on residential areas where houses and public facilities are located. Based on the results of the field survey, emergency and permanent restoration sites will be selected to prevent secondary damage in advance.

The Korea Forest Service plans to establish restoration plans categorized into emergency restoration, restoration within the year, and permanent restoration according to the risk level of the damaged areas.

The results of the emergency assessment will be shared with the relevant local governments to be utilized for detailed damage surveys and restoration plan establishment by region.

Lim Sang-seop, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, said, "Forest fire damage areas can cause landslides during heavy rains, so thorough preparation is necessary. We will do our best to prevent secondary damage to forest fire damage sites through scientific assessments using the latest technologies such as satellite imagery and drones, and to protect the lives and property of the public."

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