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| South Korea Wildfire by NASA on 22th Mar 2025 |
After 213 hours, the massive wildfire that began in Sancheong County and spread to Hadong, Jinju, and Jirisan National Park has finally been contained. However, concerns remain as dry weather and strong winds increase the risk of re-ignition.
🚒 A Grueling 10-Day Battle to Contain the Fire
Fire Spread & Key Events
- March 21, 3:26 PM – The fire ignites in a forested area in Sancheong’s Sicheon-myeon.
- March 23 – High winds cause the fire to spread rapidly to Hadong’s Okjong-myeon.
- March 25 – The flames reach Jinju’s Sugok-myeon, but the main fire there is extinguished within two hours.
- March 26 – The wildfire crosses into Jirisan National Park, raising fears of severe ecological damage.
- March 30, 1:00 PM – Authorities officially declare the main fire extinguished after relentless firefighting efforts.
The Scale of Destruction
- Burned Area: 1,858 hectares (equivalent to 2,602 soccer fields)
- Jirisan National Park Damage: 123 hectares affected
- Fire Influence Zone: A staggering 48,150 hectares burned (80% of Seoul’s total area)
- Total Duration: 213 hours (10 days)
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| Wildfire was extinguished on the 30th Mar in the mountains in Andong, Gyeongbuk. |
🚁 Challenges Faced by Firefighters
Firefighting efforts were severely hampered by:
- Steep Slopes – Areas with up to 40-degree inclines, making ground access nearly impossible.
- Dense Vegetation – Jirisan’s high-altitude forest includes bamboo, azaleas, oak, and pine trees, which prevented aerial water drops from reaching the ground.
- Deep Leaf Litter – Some areas had 100cm-deep leaf layers, fueling underground fires.
- Strong Winds – Gusts of up to 20m/s (72km/h) spread embers over long distances.
- Limited Rainfall – Two instances of light rain were recorded, but the total accumulation was less than 1mm, offering little help in controlling the fire.
Authorities deployed:
- 50+ helicopters – Including the U.S. military’s CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which played a crucial role.
- 1,473 firefighters – From the Korea Forest Service, military, police, and special disaster response teams.
- High-tech equipment – Including forest fire suppression vehicles and specialized ground crews.
Despite these efforts, the fire advanced to within 4.5km of Jirisan’s highest peak (Cheonwangbong, 1,915m) before it was stopped.
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| A golf course in Andong after the worst wildfire |
🏡 Human & Property Losses
Casualties
- 30 deaths, including: 26 in North Gyeongsang Province and 4 in South Gyeongsang Province
- 45 injured, bringing the total number of victims to 75.
Among the casualties were four wildfire response personnel, who tragically lost their lives while battling the flames.
Property & Infrastructure Damage
- Homes Destroyed: 3,265 houses
- Industrial Facilities Damaged: 6,192 businesses & buildings
- Cultural Heritage Affected: 30 sites, including two national treasures at Gounsa Temple.
- Displaced Residents: 2,158 people left homeless.
💰 Government Declares Disaster, Allocates Emergency Funds
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| Firefighting efforts in Jirisan on 30th Mar |
The South Korean government has designated eight cities and counties as special disaster zones, including: Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, Uiseong, Sancheong, Hadong, and Ulju.
Financial Relief Measures
- ₩300,000 ($225) per person for affected residents.
- ₩81 billion ($61 million) in total emergency disaster relief for 274,000 residents.
- ₩1 trillion ($700 million) emergency recovery budget approved by the government.
⚠️ Ongoing Risks and Investigations
Despite the main fire being extinguished, authorities remain on high alert due to:
- Dry Weather & Winds – Meteorologists warn of hot, dry westerly winds increasing from March 31 onward.
- Lingering Embers – Fire crews continue mop-up operations with 40 helicopters to prevent flare-ups.
- Underground Fires – The deep leaf litter layer remains a concern, as embers could reignite.
Authorities are conducting:
- Arson Investigation – A suspect is under investigation as a possible cause of the fire.
- Safety Violations Probe – The Ministry of Employment and Labor is reviewing whether the Serious Accidents Punishment Act was violated after the death of four firefighters.
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| Sancheong wildfire map (산청 산불 지도) |
🔥 Lessons from the Sancheong Wildfire
This wildfire serves as a wake-up call for South Korea’s wildfire preparedness. Experts are urging:
- Increased Aerial Firefighting Resources – More large-capacity helicopters.
- Better Emergency Coordination – Faster response times between agencies.
- Enhanced Firefighter Safety Measures – Improved protective gear and training.
- Stronger Wildfire Prevention Policies – Tighter regulations for fire-prone areas.
📚 Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
"경남 산청군과 하동군에서 발생해 하동군·진주시·지리산국립공원까지 번진 대형 산불이 213시간 만에 꺼졌다. 주불은 진화했지만 여전히 곳곳에 잔불이 남아 있고, 고온 건조한 날씨와 강한 서풍 예보까지 더해지며 완전 진화까지는 안심할 수 없는 상황이다."
Key Vocabulary
- 산청군 (Sancheong-gun) - Sancheong County
- 하동군 (Hadong-gun) - Hadong County
- 진주시 (Jinju-si) - Jinju City
- 지리산국립공원 (Jirisan National Park) - Jirisan National Park
- 대형 산불 (daehyeong sanbul) - large wildfire
- 번지다 (beonjida) - to spread
- 진화하다 (jinhwahada) - to be extinguished
- 주불 (jubul) - main fire
- 잔불 (janbul) - remaining embers
- 고온 건조 (go-on geonjo) - high temperatures and dry conditions
- 서풍 (seopung) - westerly wind
- 안심할 수 없다 (ansimhal su eopda) - cannot relax/be at ease
Grammar Breakdown
- ~에서 발생해 → "originating in..." (산청군과 하동군에서 발생해)
- ~까지 번진 → "spread all the way to..." (지리산국립공원까지 번진)
- ~만에 꺼졌다 → "was put out after [time]" (213시간 만에 꺼졌다)
- ~까지 더해지며 → "with [factor] adding to it..." (강한 서풍 예보까지 더해지며)
Translation
"The large wildfire that started in Sancheong-gun and Hadong-gun, spreading to Hadong-gun, Jinju City, and Jirisan National Park, was extinguished after 213 hours. While the main fire has been put out, embers remain in various areas, and with forecasts predicting high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong westerly winds, the situation cannot be considered completely safe until full containment is achieved."
References: yonhap news, naver news
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