A series of wildfires which broke out in South Korea’s Gangwon Province on Thursday evening have killed one person and forced thousands more to flee.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government has declared a state of national disaster in the most-affected areas.

More than 3,000 firefighters are involved in efforts to contain the blaze, which has spread to the cities of Sokcho, a popular tourist hub, and Gangneung.

The country’s defence ministry has deployed 16,500 soldiers, 32 military helicopters and 26 military fire engines.

By Friday morning, officials said the fires in Sokcho had been contained, while only 50% had been contained in Gangneung, which is home to more than 200,000 people.

Spanning 525 hectares (1,297 acres), the fires have so far ripped through several hundred homes, warehouses and other buildings, according to the government.

South Korean prime minister Lee Nak-yeon said it was the “largest disaster” in the area in years, referring to another wildfire that ripped through the nearby Yangyang County in 2005.

In a statement posted to Twitter, South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged authorities to make “every effort with all available resources” to fight the fire.

Plans have been put in place to provide meals to the more than 2,000 evacuees, who have taken shelter overnight in gymnasiums and schools.

Dozens of schools are set to remain closed.

South Korea’s interior ministry confirmed on Friday that 4 billion won (£2.6 million) had been put towards battling the blaze and subsequent cleanup operation, while a further 250 million won (£168,000) was to be used in a disaster relief fund for evacuees.

Source: Read Full Article