Historic Heritage Under Fire: South Korea Battles Devastating Wildfires

Officials in South Korea's Andong city urge evacuations as persistent wildfires, exacerbated by strong winds, threaten lives and cultural landmarks. Thousands have fled, historical sites are lost, and the government escalates its response to the 'serious' threat as investigations suggest human error as a possible cause.

In a critical situation, officials from the South Korean city of Andong have called for residents to evacuate as relentless wildfires wreak havoc across the southern regions. These blazes, intensified by dry winds, have forced a mass exodus and destroyed notable structures, including the ancient Gounsa Buddhist temple.

The Korea Forest Service has escalated its wildfire warning to the highest level, urging a stronger emergency response across affected areas. With over 36,300 acres already burned, local governments are reinforcing workforce allocations and stricter forest access controls, while advising military units to postpone live fire exercises.

Amid ongoing firefighting efforts, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo commits to curbing the disaster as the acting leader. Human error is suspected in some fires' origins, further complicating efforts to contain the damage, which has already designated certain areas as disaster zones to accelerate recovery.

(With inputs from agencies.)