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| Uiseong wildfire traveled 78 km from the ignition point. |
The devastating wildfire that broke out in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk on March 22 has set a new record for wildfire spread in South Korea. Fueled by typhoon-level winds, the fire traveled at an unprecedented speed of 8.2 km per hour on the night of March 25, covering a distance of 78 km to reach Yeongdeok on the East Coast. To put this into perspective, the fire spread at a rate comparable to a car moving at 60 km/h.
According to the Korea Forest Service (KFS) on March 27, the wildfire spread across five cities and counties—Uiseong (의성), Andong (안동), Yeongyang (영양), Yeongdeok (영덕), and Cheongsong (청송)—at an alarming rate, reaching Yeongdeok’s Ganggu Port (영덕 강구항) within 12 hours. This marks the fastest wildfire expansion ever recorded in the country.
🌪️ Unstoppable Flames Fueled by Extreme Winds
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| Mountains turned to black after the worstest wildfire in Uiseong |
At the peak of the fire on March 25, wind speeds at the site reached approximately 27 meters per second (m/s). Winds above 17.5 m/s are classified as typhoon-level, making it extremely difficult to contain the flames.
Satellite imagery revealed that while the fire remained localized in Uiseong and Andong in the morning, it rapidly spread to Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok in the afternoon. Myeong-su Won, Director of the National Forest Satellite Information Utilization Center, stated:
"During the 2019 Sokcho-Goseong wildfire, the fire spread at a speed of 5.2 km per hour, but this time, the rate was significantly higher at 8.2 km per hour—the fastest wildfire spread ever recorded in South Korea."
⚠️ Failure to Predict Typhoon-Level Winds Worsens Damage
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| Seok-ri Village, Yeongdeok-eup Town, Yeongdeok County after the historic wildfire |
Authorities have admitted their failure to anticipate the extreme wind conditions, which significantly contributed to the rapid spread. Won explained:
"Wildfire prediction models take terrain and weather conditions into account, but the sudden 27 m/s wind gusts were not in the weather forecast. As a result, we were unable to predict that the fire would reach Yeongdeok."
🔥 Massive Damage and Ongoing Firefighting Efforts
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| Rest stop (청송휴게소) on the highway (서산영덕고속도로) are completely burn after the fire |
As of 9 a.m. on March 27, the wildfire has affected approximately 33,204 hectares of land, with only 44.3% of the fire contained. Firefighters are still battling the blaze to prevent further destruction, as the situation remains critical.
The Uiseong wildfire serves as a stark reminder of the devastating power of nature, highlighting the urgent need for improved wildfire forecasting and response strategies in the face of extreme weather conditions.
📚 Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
"지난 25일 밤 수많은 인명피해를 낳은 경북 의성 산불이 태풍급 바람을 타고 시간당 8.2㎞ 속도로 51㎞ 떨어진 동해안 영덕까지 날아간 것으로 분석됐다. 이는 자동차로 따지면 시속 60㎞가량의 빠른 속도다. 따라서 갑작스럽게 부는 강풍 예측에 실패해 피해가 커졌던 것으로 보인다."
Key Vocabulary:
Grammar Notes:
~ㄴ/은 것으로 분석됐다 = "It was analyzed that..."
~로 따지면 = "if you compare it to..."
Translation:
"It was analyzed that the Gyeongbuk Uiseong wildfire, which caused numerous casualties on the night of the 25th, was carried by typhoon-level winds at a speed of 8.2 km per hour, traveling 51 km to Yeongdeok on the East Coast. This is comparable to a car moving at about 60 km/h. Therefore, it appears that the failure to predict the sudden strong winds led to greater damage."
Reference: hani news, yonhap news, channel A,
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