South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas of the country as the death toll rose to 28, with 32 others injured, the government said on Thursday.
Medium and large wildfires have been burning across 10 regions, mostly in Gyeongsang Province, since last Friday. South Korea's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said on Thursday that 387,000 hectares of land had been affected, forcing the evacuation of around 37,800 people.
In the country's previous worst wildfires, in 2000, 23,794 hectares of land were burned.
Kim Wae-seon, a 77-year-old, is living at a gymnasium in Uiseong County with dozens of other evacuees. She fled her home with literally nothing but the clothes on her back.
"I didn't even have time to think about it. When they told us to evacuate, I just ran out wearing slippers, without even grabbing my sneakers. I had nowhere to go, so now I'm staying here," she said.
Temporary shelters have been set up across the region, offering food, blankets, medical care, and other basic needs to the displaced. Volunteers, local businesses, and aid organizations are working around the clock to provide support.
"As soon as I got here, I focused on how to greet and comfort the evacuees, especially the elderly. I wanted to help them feel safe and reassured. With this thought, I calmed them one by one. I told them, 'It's okay. You're safe here. Don't worry. The fire won't reach you.' Just reassuring them like that. 'We're here, so you'll be fine.'" said Kang Geum-sook, a volunteer.
However, for people like Kim who have lost their homes, it's hard to remain optimistic.
"We worked so hard all our lives, never borrowing money from others, always trying to help instead. Even after my husband passed away, I kept volunteering. I truly lived my life working hard. I never imagined this would happen. But now, there's no hope," Kim said.
Meanwhile, firefighters continued to battle the flames under dangerous conditions. The country's forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level, while thousands of firefighters, as well as helicopters and fire trucks, were mobilized to combat the wildfires.
Light rain fell in some wildfire areas on Thursday, slowing the spread of the fires but not extinguishing those already burning, Lim Sang-seop, head of the Korea Forest Service, told a press conference on Thursday.
Death toll in South Korea's worst-ever wildfires rises to 28
