South Korea: Opposition Leader to Express Sympathy for Wildfire Victims in Sancheong

Key Takeaways

DP leader Lee Jae-myung to visit memorial altar in Sancheong.
Wildfires have claimed four lives and displaced nearly 600 people.
Acting President Han Duck-soo calls for urgent firefighting efforts.
Over 4,150 hectares of land affected by the wildfires.
Authorities working on coordinated response to contain fires.

Seoul, March 24 (NationPress) The head of the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP) in South Korea is set to express his sympathy for those affected by the devastating wildfires that have swept through the southeastern county of Sancheong, according to officials.

DP leader Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to visit a unified memorial altar established in Sancheong, located in South Gyeongsang Province, roughly 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to console the families who have lost loved ones in the tragedy.

"I extend my condolences to the mourning families who have lost their dear ones overnight, as well as to the displaced individuals who have lost their homes and the residents seeking refuge in shelters amid fear and trepidation," Lee remarked during a Supreme Council meeting earlier.

The wildfire in Sancheong, which ignited last Friday, has resulted in the deaths of four individuals and the destruction of various facilities, subsequently spreading to neighboring Hadong County and displacing nearly 600 residents across both counties, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Earlier today, South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo urged the government to exert maximum efforts to control the wildfires ravaging the southeastern region of the country.

Following his return to office after being reinstated by the Constitutional Court, Han received briefings on the ongoing wildfires that have been sweeping the nation since Friday. Fire authorities have confirmed that the wildfires have claimed at least four lives and injured nine.

"Relevant agencies must develop a coordinated approach to work together until the wildfires are fully extinguished," Han stated during his visit to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at the government complex.

Han mentioned to reporters that he would meet with individuals affected by the wildfires later in the day, adding that he had sent handwritten notes to the bereaved families of the deceased.

On Sunday, South Korea was grappling with the challenge of controlling multiple wildfires in the southeastern region, with strong and dry winds complicating containment efforts.

So far, a total of 4,150 hectares of land—equivalent to about 5,811 football fields—have been scorched, with over 1,000 hectares devastated in both Euiseong and Sancheong.