Synopsis
A firefighting helicopter in South Korea crashed in Uiseong while tackling a large wildfire, resulting in the pilot's death. The ongoing fires have led to 16 fatalities and numerous injuries in the region, prompting significant firefighting efforts involving thousands of personnel and military support.Key Takeaways
- Uiseong experienced a tragic helicopter crash.
- Wildfires have claimed at least 16 lives in the region.
- Firefighting efforts involve military support and thousands of personnel.
- The historic Goun Temple was destroyed in the fires.
- Inmate transfers were made due to the fire threat.
Uiseong, March 26 (NationPress) A firefighting helicopter from South Korea tragically crashed on Wednesday while engaged in combat against a significant wildfire in the southeastern county of Uiseong, resulting in the death of the pilot, as reported by authorities.
The aircraft went down at 12:54 p.m. on a mountain in Uiseong, situated approximately 180 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the Korea Forest Service.
Authorities indicated that the cause of the incident is currently under investigation, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Additionally, the death toll from a series of wildfires in the southeastern region has tragically risen to 16, with another 10 individuals injured, officials confirmed on Wednesday, as firefighters faced challenges in controlling the rapidly spreading fires.
The wildfires, which ignited last Friday in Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province, have since extended to nearby Uiseong and are advancing towards neighboring areas such as Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, propelled by strong, dry winds.
Among the victims, two were located in Andong, three in Cheongsong, five in Yeongyang, and six in Yeongdeok, as stated by officials.
Of the ten injured, two are reported to have sustained serious injuries.
In Yeongyang, four of the five victims were discovered dead from burns on a road around 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The fierce flames have also destroyed the historic Goun Temple in Uiseong, an ancient site established in 681 during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). Fortunately, national treasures housed in the temple had been relocated prior to the incident.
Thousands of firefighters, along with numerous helicopters and vehicles, have been mobilized to tackle the blazes.
Since last Friday, the military has deployed around 5,000 personnel and 146 helicopters to assist in combating the wildfires raging across the southeastern region.
The justice ministry has stated that approximately 500 inmates from a prison in North Gyeongsang Province were transferred overnight to avoid the advancing flames.
The ministry initially contemplated moving about 3,500 inmates from various prisons in the region but scaled down the number as some fires were extinguished.
