OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
ANDONG, South Korea (Reuters) -Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size on Thursday from a day earlier, as authorities called the blazes the country's worst natural fire disaster with at least 26 people killed and historic temples incinerated.
More than 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires that began in the central Uiseong county, making it the biggest single forest fire in South Korea's history. The previous record was 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) in a March 2000 fire.
"We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires," Acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting.
The military has released stocks of aviation fuel to help keep firefighting helicopters flying to douse flames across mountainous regions in the southeast of the country where fires have been burning now for nearly a week.
More than 120 helicopters have been deployed in three regions battling the blazes, the safety ministry said. South Korea relies on helicopters to fight forest fires because of its mountainous terrain. A helicopter pilot died on Wednesday after crashing while trying to tackle a blaze.
The wildfires that originated in Uiseong have been moving rapidly eastward, spreading almost to the coast, carried by gusty winds and with dry conditions aggravating the situation.
The Uiseong fire began spreading quickly on Wednesday, reaching the coastal county of Yeongdeok 51 km (32 miles) away in just 12 hours, said Won Myung-soo, director of satellite imagery analysis for the national forestry service.
While the meteorological agency has forecast some rain for the southwest, precipitation is expected to be under five millimetres for most of the affected areas.
"The amount of rain is going to be small so it doesn't look like it'll be big help in trying to extinguish the fire," Korea Forest Service Minister Lim Sang-seop told a briefing.
Experts have said the Uiseong fire showed extremely unusual spread in terms of its scale and speed, and that climate change is expected to make wildfires more frequent and deadly globally.
Higher temperatures amplified by human-caused climate change contributed to the existing seasonally dry conditions, "turning dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel" in the region, the Climate Central group, an independent body made up of scientists and researchers, said in a report.
The wildfires have carved a trail of devastation through an area equivalent to about half the area of Singapore, ravaging everything in their path including historic temples and homes in the mountainous forest regions of North Gyeongsang province.
Teams of firefighters are on standby to protect the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in the city of Andong, if a blaze jumps the stream that flows around them.
The picturesque folk village has traditional Korean houses, many with thatched roofs, while the Confucian academy dates back more than 450 years.
The fires have already badly damaged other historic sites, including much of Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, which was built in 681.
"The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone," said Deungwoon, the head of the Gounsa Temple.
(Additional reporting by Nicoco Chan and Hongji Kim in Uiseong and Jihoo Kim in SeoulWriting by Jack KimEditing by Ed Davies and Michael Perry)
JOHOR BAHRU – Situasi banjir termenung di kawasan kediaman menyebabkan 405 mangsa daripada 116 keluarga masih ditempatkan di lima pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) kekal beroperasi setakat 8 pagi ini.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN), Tan Sri Dr. Azmi Rohani berkata, kesemua mangsa melibatkan dua daerah iaitu Batu Pahat dan Pontian.
Menurut beliau, jumlah itu bagaimanapun merupakan penurunan berbanding seramai 449 mangsa di tujuh PPS yang direkodkan pukul 4 petang, semalam.
“Tiga PPS yang beroperasi di Batu Pahat menempatkan 364 mangsa, manakala dua PPS di Pontian menempatkan 41 mangsa.
“Mereka masih tidak dapat pulang ke kediaman masing-masing kerana air di kawasan kediaman mangsa masih belum surut sepenuhnya,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan, di sini hari ini.-KOSMO! ONLINE
JOHOR BAHRU: The flood situation in Johor continues to improve, with the number of evacuees decreasing to 405 as of 8am on Thursday (March 27), compared to 909 recorded on Wednesday (March 26).
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said all evacuees from 116 families are still taking shelter at five temporary relief centres in the affected districts of Batu Pahat and Pontian.
"Batu Pahat recorded 364 victims from 107 families, while Pontian has 41 evacuees from nine families.
"The five relief centres still operating are Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Melayu Raya and SK Sinaran Tampok in Pontian, as well as Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Gading, SK Sri Comel and Dewan Orang Ramai Tongkang Pechah in Batu Pahat," he said in a statement on Thursday.
Azmi added that the weather across all 10 districts in the state is expected to be clear this morning. – Bernama
ALOR SETAR: Six districts in Kedah have been identified as being at risk of flash floods during the ongoing transition from the Northeast Monsoon to the Southwest Monsoon.
Kedah Civil Defence Force director Lt Col Zairil Anuar Zulmuji said the transition phase, expected to last until May, brings thunderstorms and heavy rain, increasing the likelihood of fallen trees and flash floods.
“We are on high alert during this period to ensure a swift response to emergencies, such as fallen trees caused by storms and flash floods,” he said after launching the Op Prihatin 2025 campaign for the Northern Zone yesterday.
Zairil added that 990 personnel are on standby around the clock to handle emergencies.
Monitoring efforts have also been intensified in flood and storm-prone areas across the six districts.
“To ensure readiness, we have restricted leave for our personnel, and all necessary equipment is prepared for immediate use should any untoward incidents occur,” he said, Bernama reported.
The monsoon transition phase, which began on Nov 5, 2024, signals the end of the Northeast Monsoon 2024/25.
During this period, the country experiences light winds from various directions, leading to the formation of storm clouds and rain, particularly in the western parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Situasi banjir di Johor beransur pulih dengan jumlah mangsa berkurang kepada 405 orang setakat pukul 8 pagi ini, berbanding 909 orang yang direkodkan, semalam.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani memaklumkan semua mangsa daripada 116 keluarga, berlindung di lima PPS di dua daerah terjejas iaitu Batu Pahat dan Pontian.
“Daerah Batu Pahat mencatatkan 364 mangsa daripada 107 keluarga, sementara Pontian pula merekodkan 41 orang daripada sembilan keluarga.
“Lima PPS yang masih beroperasi ialah Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Melayu Raya dan SK Sinaran Tampok, Pontian; serta Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Gading, SK Sri Comel dan Dewan Orang Ramai Tongkak Pechah di Batu Pahat,” katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.
Beliau berkata keadaan cuaca di kesemua 10 daerah di negeri itu dijangka cerah pada pagi ini.