South Korea battles country's worst ever wildfires: A look at five deadliest and largest wildfires in history

South Korea wildfires

South Korea is currently facing its most severe wildfire, that has claimed 27 lives so far and destroyed several historic monuments while leaving thousands displaced.

The largest fire, which ignited in central Uiseong county, has consumed over 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) and continues to burn, marking the most extensive forest fire in the nation's history. This incident surpasses the previous record set by a fire in 2000 that affected 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres).

The wildfires that began in Uiseong are advancing rapidly eastward, nearing the coast, propelled by strong winds and exacerbated by dry conditions, as reported by Reuters.

Let us examine the five most significant wildfires in history, investigating their causes and the repercussions they had on the environment and local communities.

• Siberian Taiga Fires, 2003: This was the largest wildfire on record, consuming approximately 55 million acres area across the Eastern Siberian region, impacting Russia, north eastern China, and northern Mongolia. It was fuelled by extreme temperatures and arid conditions, likely associated with climate change, these fires emitted pollutants equivalent to the carbon reduction targets of the EU's Kyoto Protocol. The resulting smoke severely degraded air quality and contributed to ozone layer depletion.

• Australian Bushfire, 2019-2020: Commonly referred to as "Black Summer," this disaster ravaged over 42 million acres in regions such as New South Wales and Victoria. Driven by extreme heat, drought, and strong winds, the fires obliterated homes, devastated wildlife, and caused significant air pollution, affecting an estimated three billion animals.

• The Great Fire, 1910: Known as the "Big Burn," this fire wreaked havoc in northern Idaho and western Montana in the United States, burning 3 million acres. Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, it generated its own weather patterns, including thunderstorms that ignited additional fires. Tragically, at least 87 firefighters lost their lives.

• Chinchaga Fire, 1950: This fire is recognized as one of North America's largest, burning 4.2 million acres across British Columbia and Alberta. It was triggered by dry lightning and exacerbated by prevailing weather conditions.

• Black Dragon Fire, 1987: It was one of the deadliest fires in the China and Russia's history, that burned 2.5 million acres across the Daxing'anling region. Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, it lasted over a month, causing 191 deaths and displacing thousands. The investigations have held human activities responsible for the fire.