Wildfire Erupts in Hadong, South Korea, Prompting Evacuations and Injuring Resident

A new wildfire has broken out in Hadong County, South Korea, an area recently affected by a large fire originating from Sancheong. The blaze started around 12:05 PM KST on April 7th in a mountain in Hoesin-ri, Okjong-myeon, approximately 3 kilometers from where the previous fire spread.

Authorities have issued a Level 1 wildfire alert, estimating the potential damage area to be between 10 and 50 hectares. Currently, 15 helicopters, 37 pieces of equipment, and 105 personnel are battling the fire. The affected area is estimated to be around 12 hectares with a fire line of approximately 1.4 kilometers. Strong northeasterly winds of up to 15 m/s are complicating firefighting efforts.

Residents of Hoesin and Yangji villages have been evacuated to Okcheon Hall and Okjong High School. The recent disaster has caused renewed anxiety among the population. According to Hoesin village leader Park Chun-ki (78), many elderly residents are finding it difficult to evacuate.

A man in his 70s working near the origin of the fire sustained burns on both hands while attempting to extinguish the flames himself and has been hospitalized. Officials suspect the fire was started by the man while he was using a mowing machine. An investigation into the precise cause and extent of the damage is underway.