South Korea Battles Worst Ever Wildfires That Has Claimed 28 Lives So Far, Rain Brings Some Relief

In South Korea, overnight rain brought relief amid devastating wildfires, aiding firefighters in battling blazes that claimed 28 lives.

Over 2,240 houses in the region have been destroyed, and more than 35,000 hectares of forest have been burned.

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Rainfall all night came as a relief for some parts of South Korea, on Friday, which has been experiencing the worst wildfires the country has ever faced. However, the cool weather and rain helped the South Korean fire crews battle the blaze.

According to AFP, more than a dozen wildfires have devastated vast regions of the country's southeast, claiming the lives of 28 people. It has destroyed an ancient temple and forced approximately 37,000 residents to evacuate.

But overnight Thursday, it rained in the affected area, which helped firefighters to contain some of the worst blazes.

On a Friday morning, Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop, the fire, which devastated large stretches of land in the southeast over the past week, are now 85% contained, as per an Associated Press report. He added authorities will launch “all-out efforts” to extinguish the remaining blazes by bringing more helicopters and fire fighters to the areas.

Lim said that the rain “reduced the haze, improving visibility, and the cooler temperatures compared to other days create very favourable conditions for firefighting efforts”.

As per AFP, the fires obstructed roads and disrupted communication lines, forcing residents to flee in panic as fireballs fell onto vehicles trapped in traffic jams during their attempt to escape the area. The blaze was fueled by strong winds and extremely dry conditions, with the region facing months of below-average rainfall after South Korea's record-breaking hottest year in 2024.

Among the 28 fatalities was a pilot in his 70s, whose helicopter crashed on Wednesday while attempting to control the blaze, along with four firefighters and other workers who were tragically overtaken by the swiftly advancing flames.

As per the AFP report, over 2,240 houses in the region have been destroyed, and more than 35,000 hectares (86,500 acres) of forest have been burned. This makes it South Korea's largest wildfire on record, surpassing the April 2000 blaze that devastated 23,913 hectares along the east coast.

The fire also destroyed several historic sites, including the Gounsa temple complex in Uiseong, which is believed to have been originally built in the 7th century.

Among the damaged structures at the temple are two state-designated treasures, one of which is a pavilion built in 1668 that overlooks a stream.

The interior minister said that the fire was accidentally started by a grave visitor and "sparks from a brush cutter".