The South Korean Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that the number of deaths in the forest fires that have been effective in South Gyeongsang and North Gyeongsang provinces and have been out of control for 6 days has risen to 24 and the number of injuries to 26.
The flames reduced at least 17,398 hectares of forest to ashes and damaged 209 structures, forcing 27,000 people to be evacuated.
South Korean Interim President Han Duck-soo said in a statement earlier in the day that the country was battling “the worst forest fires ever seen.”
