Uiseong wildfire spreads to Andong... even covers highway rest areas

On this day, Uiseong County sent 19 emergency text messages to residents, urging them to evacuate quickly to a safe place. Over 900 residents of Uiseong County were evacuated urgently to places such as Uiseong Gymnasium.

Gyeongbuk Province deployed fire trucks to spray water around Gounsa Temple in Danchon-myeon, Uiseong-gun. This was to protect the treasure sites of Yeonsujeon and Gawonru. A waterproof tarp was placed over the treasure stone seated Buddha statue. In Uiseong, following the complete destruction of Unlamsa Temple on the 22nd, Gounsa Temple was also at risk of burning down.

A wildfire has been burning in Uiseong for three days since the 22nd. There have been no casualties, but the burned mountain area reached 8,490 hectares. It is the largest wildfire this year. It is roughly the size of 11,890 soccer fields. Among all wildfires in history, it ranks third in terms of damage scale. The length of the wildfire is 164 km. As of that day, 77 houses and other structures have been burned.

Sancheong wildfire heading towards Jirisan National Park

An emergency has been declared at the Sancheong site in Gyeongnam. On this morning, a sudden shower prompted cheers to "catch the main fire in the morning," but in the afternoon, strong winds made firefighting efforts difficult. The wind direction also changed from north to south.

The official from the Korea Forest Service said, "Due to strong winds of about 16 meters per second, the small fire repeatedly reignited despite efforts to extinguish it."

The "Goblin Wind," which was difficult to predict, was also the problem when four firefighting personnel lost their lives in the wildfire site on the 22nd.

In the afternoon, the fire headed towards Jirisan National Park. It approached Cheonwangbong, the highest peak of Jirisan, within 6 km. Based on the national park boundary, the fire spread up to 600 meters. Residents of Jungsan-ri, Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, at the foot of Jirisan, said, "You can see the fire pushing towards Jirisan." Gyeongnam Province stated, "Cheonwangbong of Jirisan is a symbol of our country," and added, "We are establishing defensive lines and fighting a full-scale battle."

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They say the fire is spreading toward Jirisan National Park...

I really think this wildfire is too dangerous.. all the way to Jirisan..ㅠ.ㅠ