South Korea battles devastating wildfires, 26 dead as UNESCO site burns

At least 26 people, including a pilot whose helicopter crashed, have died as wildfires continue to rage across South Korea, destroying an ancient Buddhist temple and forcing evacuations from a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Firefighters from the National Fire Agency have been battling the blazes, which Acting President Han Duck-soo described on Wednesday as some of the worst in the country’s history. Strong winds and dry conditions have worsened the crisis.

A helicopter involved in firefighting efforts crashed on Wednesday, but the cause of the accident remains unclear.

The wildfires, which ignited on Friday in the southeastern part of the country, have already consumed two ancient Buddhist temples and damaged over 200 buildings.

Government reports confirm that tens of thousands of acres have been burned, while more than 27,000 people have been forced to evacuate.

“We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever, but the situation is not good,” said Acting President Han Duck-soo.

By Wednesday, the fires threatened several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in Andong city. Officials sprayed fire retardants in a bid to protect them, but Goun Temple, a historic site built in 681, had already been reduced to ashes.

The government has since declared the affected regions as special disaster zones.