South Korea battles deadly wildfires as crisis deepens

At least 24 people have died in one of South Korea’s worst wildfire outbreaks, with officials warning of unprecedented devastation.  

More than a dozen fires erupted over the weekend, scorching vast areas in the southeast and forcing 27,000 residents to flee. Roads were cut off, and communication networks collapsed as the blazes spread.  

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Among the victims are three firefighters and a helicopter pilot whose aircraft crashed while battling the inferno. Authorities report that over 17,000 hectares have already been consumed, making this the country’s second-largest wildfire on record.  

Two UNESCO-listed sites, Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon, remain under threat. The government has raised its crisis alert to the highest level, as experts link the worsening wildfires to climate change.