South Korea wildfires: Four killed, thousands displaced; firefighters make progress after five days | Top updates

Houses burn in a village after being engulfed by a wildfire fueled by strong winds in Uiseong, South Korea.

The deadly wildfires in the southeastern region of South Korea have caused widespread destruction and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes. Four people, including three firefighters, have already lost their lives as all possible efforts are being made to contain more than 30 wildfires that have erupted across the country, fueled by strong, dry winds.

With the largest wildfires in the region having burnt more than 36,300 acres of land in the past five days, here are the top updates on the efforts to contain them.

1. The firefighters on Tuesday appeared closer to contain the wildfires. Around 90% of the fires in Sancheong and Uiseong and more than half of the blaze in Ulsan were extinguished as of Tuesday morning, reported news agency AP, quoting officials.

South Korea struggles to contain deadly wildfireshttps://t.co/6TLels4ArVpic.twitter.com/B0oC2i4QWZ

AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 25, 2025

2. Four firefighters and government workers were killed in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds. At least 11 other people have been injured.

3. Since last Friday, the wildfires have forced more than 5,400 to evacuate from their homes and damaged or destroyed more than 150 buildings, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

4. The national government designated the hardest-hit southeastern regions as disaster zones to focus resources and accelerate recovery efforts.

5. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, serving as the country’s acting leader following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment over a December martial law decree, vowed an all-out effort to contain the wildfires during a government meeting on Tuesday. He also urged public vigilance as dry spring weather persists.

6. Government officials suspect that several of the recent wildfires, including those in Uiseong and Ulsan, were caused by human error, possibly due to the use of fire to clear overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work.

7. Sancheong was already a special disaster zone - a designation that triggers extra funding and other measures. Acting President Han Duck-soo added another county in South Gyeongsang Province and two others in Ulsan and North Gyeongsang Province to the list.

8. Wildfires are not unusual in South Korea, particularly in February, March and April when conditions are driest.