South Korean authorities confirmed on Tuesday that around 88% of ongoing wildfires in the country’s eastern regions have been brought under control, despite strong winds complicating firefighting operations.
The fires broke out over the weekend in Gangwon Province, a mountainous area prone to wildfires, and quickly spread toward residential zones due to dry weather and gusty winds, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
According to the Korea Forest Service, over 7,000 personnel and 40 helicopters have been deployed to contain the flames and prevent their spread to nearby nature reserves.
No major casualties have been reported so far, though emergency services remain on high alert in case weather conditions worsen or the fire reignites.