South Korea has intensified efforts to control multiple wildfires in the southeastern region, deploying dozens of helicopters, firefighters, and soldiers as the blazes continue to spread.
The fires, which have been burning for several days, have claimed at least four lives, with officials citing strong winds and rising temperatures as major obstacles to containment.
During a press briefing, Lim Sang-seop, head of the Korea Forest Service, revealed that nearly 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) of land in Uiseong had been affected, forcing the evacuation of approximately 600 residents.
He stated that 57 firefighting helicopters and over 2,600 personnel, including soldiers, had been mobilized to tackle the disaster.
By Monday afternoon, authorities had managed to partially contain the flames, but the fires were still active.
One of the worst-affected areas, Sancheong county in South Gyeongsang province—about 250 kilometres (155 miles) southeast of Seoul—recorded four deaths over the weekend.
In response to the crisis, the government declared a state of emergency in the impacted regions due to the widespread devastation.
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, urging officials to remain vigilant until the fires are completely extinguished.