OMG, you guys, South Korea is totally dealing with the worst wildfires ever, and it’s seriously heartbreaking.
Okay, so, these fires started on March 21 in Uiseong County, and they have been totally out of control, spreading super fast toward the coast. At least 28 people have died, 32 are injured, and over 37,800 people had to evacuate their homes. And get this—more than 36,000 hectares of land have burned, which is literally the worst wildfire disaster in South Korea’s history. Even worse than that huge fire back in 2000.
And it’s not just homes and forests—historic sites are totally being wrecked. The Gounsa Temple, which has been around since 681 AD, lost 20 out of 30 of its buildings, including two actual national treasures from the Joseon dynasty. Like, can you even imagine? Officials are doing literally everything they can to stop more damage, especially to the Hahoe Folk Village, which is super famous and a UNESCO site.
Firefighters are working nonstop—they’ve got thousands of personnel out there and over 120 helicopters trying to put out the flames. But the strong winds and dry weather are making things so much worse. And yeah, there’s some rain in the forecast, but it’s totally not enough to stop the fires. Like, Mother Nature, can you please just chill for a sec?
So, how did this even happen? Well, apparently, human error is a big part of it. Some of the fires may have started from people doing grass clearing and welding. But experts are also saying that climate change is making everything way worse. Like, not to be dramatic, but this is giving major apocalypse vibes.
The South Korean government is calling this a national disaster, and honestly, duh. People in those areas need to be super careful and listen to evacuation orders. Oh, and if you’re planning a trip to South Korea, Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island are totally fine, so don’t cancel your flights or anything.
This whole situation is so devastating, and our hearts are totally with everyone in South Korea right now. Let’s hope they get this fire under control ASAP.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
