South Korea Battles Historic Wildfires, 28 Dead, Thousands Displaced

South Korea is facing its worst wildfires in history, with over 45,000 hectares of land scorched and at least 28 lives lost. The fires, which began in Uiseong and rapidly spread to coastal regions, have forced more than 37,000 residents to evacuate, with reports of significant historical sites being damaged. Recent light rain and cooler temperatures have improved firefighting conditions, allowing authorities to contain approximately 95% of the fires in Uiseong and 85% in neighboring Andong. Firefighting efforts have involved over 125 helicopters, although the situation remains dire with ongoing flames affecting Yeongdeok County. Experts attribute the unprecedented fire spread to climate change and poor weather conditions in recent months. The government has vowed to mobilize all resources to extinguish the remaining blazes and reassess firefighting strategies for the future.