18 killed as wildfires rage in South Korea

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 18 people have been killed as wildfires rage in the southeastern region of South Korea, a media report said on Wednesday

The deadly wildfires spread rapidly and forced more than 27,000 residents to flee their homes, Reuters reported.

Fuelled by strong winds and dry weather, the blazes razed entire neighbourhoods, closed schools and forced authorities to transfer hundreds of inmates from prisons.

“We are deploying all available personnel and equipment in response to the worst wildfires ever but the situation is not good,” Acting President Han Duck-soo said, adding the US military in Korea was also assisting.

The blazes that broke out on Saturday in Uiseong are yet to be contained, gutting ancient temples and destroying homes, the report said.

kk/mud