At least 26 people, including the pilot of a downed helicopter, have died as wildfires reduced an ancient Buddhist temple to ashes and forced the evacuation of residents from a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Firefighters from South Korea’s National Fire Agency have been battling what the acting president on Wednesday described as some of the worst wildfires in the country’s history, driven by strong winds and dry conditions.
Reports indicate that a helicopter crashed on Wednesday during firefighting efforts, though the cause of the crash remains unknown.
The fires, which began on Friday in the country’s southeast, have destroyed two ancient Buddhist temples and damaged more than 200 buildings.
According to government reports, tens of thousands of acres have been scorched, and more than 27,000 people have been evacuated.
“We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good,” Acting President Han Duck-soo said.
The fire broke out on Saturday threatening several UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in Andong city on Wednesday, a city official said, as authorities sprayed fire retardants to try to protect them. The blaze had already burnt down Goun Temple, which was built in 681.
The government has designated the affected areas as special disaster zones
