Evacuation Advisory Issued for Residents Near Hahoe Folk Village as Wildfires Advance
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Synopsis
Residents near Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, South Korea, are being evacuated due to approaching wildfires from Uiseong County. Emergency alerts were issued as smoke thickens and firefighters work to protect the area.
Key Takeaways
- Evacuation orders issued for residents near Hahoe Village.
- Wildfires originated in Uiseong County and are nearing UNESCO site.
- Authorities deployed 14 firefighting vehicles and 98 personnel.
- Smoke has made the village difficult to inhabit.
- 800 inmates transferred for safety.
Andong, March 26 (NationPress) Concern is escalating around Hahoe Folk Village in the southeastern region of South Korea's Andong on Wednesday, as wildfires ignited in nearby Uiseong County last week are now threatening the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
The city dispatched emergency text notifications to residents in proximity to Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Seowon around 8:20 p.m., urging them to seek shelter as the wildfires drew closer.
"Our drone identified temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius at a location four kilometers from Byeongsan Seowon, prompting us to recommend an evacuation," stated an official.
Officials reported that the wildfire has encroached upon a village located within three kilometers of Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Firefighters continue to douse buildings with water to mitigate fire hazards, they confirmed.
Hahoe, situated approximately 190 km southeast of Seoul, is one of South Korea's most renowned folk villages and was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2010. It preserves architectural styles and cultural practices from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
The Justice Ministry has also initiated the transfer of around 800 inmates from a local prison in Andong to alternative facilities to ensure their safety from the flames.
The forest fire originated in the Ansa district of Uiseong, approximately 7 km from Hahoe, with smoke drifting into the village due to wind patterns. The village's roughly 200 residents have been relocated to safer areas since early Wednesday morning, leaving the village largely deserted, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.
Smoke began to infiltrate the village around 10 a.m., intensifying after noon, according to firefighters. The area was engulfed in thick gray smoke, with the odor so strong that breathing without a mask became challenging.
Authorities have mobilized 14 firefighting vehicles and 98 personnel to safeguard Hahoe Village from potential fire damage. Firefighters have been diligently applying water and flame retardant to the homes and surrounding pine forest every two hours.
