Powerful wildfires are currently ongoing in southeastern South Korea, making them the most destructive in the country’s history. The fires have resulted in 26 deaths, forced 37,000 people to evacuate, and destroyed 360,000 acres of land, including forests, homes, and factories. Temples have also been burned, and UNESCO World Heritage sites are at risk.
Most of the victims were local residents, but at least three firefighters and the pilot of a helicopter that crashed yesterday while assisting in firefighting efforts are among the dead, according to authorities.
Experts believe human error is likely responsible for most of the fires, which began on Friday, March 21, 2025.
2024 was the hottest year on record for South Korea, while the most destructive wildfire prior to this year occurred in 2000, burning 100,000 fewer acres.
The effects of climate change are evident, say officials in the country, as the affected areas in South Korea are experiencing extremely dry conditions due to half the average rainfall over the past year. As a result, this year’s wildfires are more than twice as numerous as last year’s.
“This fire once again exposed the harsh reality of a climate crisis unlike anything we’ve experienced before,” says Lee Han-kyung, a senior official in the country.
In addition to the dry conditions, strong winds are making the work of thousands of firefighters and 120 helicopters more difficult. The last major wildfire in the country occurred on the eastern coast in April 2020, burning a total of 239,130 acres.
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