SOUTH KOREA DECLARES STATE OF DISASTER AS WILDFIRES RAVAGE SOUTHERN REGIONS

An Emirati Magazine publication – Released on March 23, 2025 | www.emiratimagazine.com

South Korea has declared a state of disaster as raging wildfires sweep through its southern regions, killing at least four people and displacing hundreds. The fires, which broke out on Friday in Sancheong County, have spread to at least three other areas, prompting emergency evacuations.

Firefighters are battling to contain the flames, with the Korea Forest Service reporting that the Sancheong fire was only 25% under control as of Saturday night. At least six people have been injured, and around 620 residents in Ulsan and Gyeongsang Province have sought shelter.

To expedite disaster response, the government designated Sancheong as a special disaster zone, allowing for the mobilization of additional resources. The crisis comes amid political uncertainty, with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok acting as interim leader following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration in December.

Efforts continue to bring the fires under control and prevent further devastation.