South Korean fire crews battled what the acting president on Wednesday called some of the worst wildfires ever in the country, fueled by windy and dry conditions. At least 24 people have died, the authorities said, including the pilot of a downed helicopter.
The National Fire Agency said the helicopter crashed on Wednesday during firefighting efforts. It said it could not immediately provide further details, including the cause of the crash or whether anyone else was on board.
Two ancient Buddhist temples were among the more than 200 buildings damaged or destroyed since the fires began on Friday in the country’s southeast. Tens of thousands of acres have been scorched, the government said, and more than 27,000 people evacuated.
March 23
March 24
March 25
Seoul
Active fires
detected
Fires
56.3 mi
SOUTH
KOREA
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Daegu
Daegu
Daegu
March 23
Seoul
Fires
SOUTH
KOREA
Active fires
detected
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Daegu
March 24
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Daegu
March 25
56.3 mi
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Daegu
March 23
March 24
March 25
Seoul
Fires
Active fires
detected
SOUTH
KOREA
56.3 mi
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Daegu
Daegu
Daegu
March 23
March 24
March 25
Seoul
Fires
SOUTH
KOREA
56.3 mi
Active fires
detected
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Gyeongsangbuk-Do
Daegu
Daegu
Daegu
Source: NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System. Data as of March 25.
By Pablo Robles
Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.