Climate change

South Korea Wildfires: Death Toll Rises to at Least 28

MAR 26 2025·Updated MAR 27 2025

Story

Above: Embers remain among the debris after most of the buildings were burned to the ground in a wildfire at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong on March 26, 2025. Image credit: Yasuyoshi Chiba/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

At least 28 people have died in what South Korean authorities have said is the worst wildfire in the country's history. "We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires," Acting President Han Duck-soo said Thursday.
Reuters
Al Jazeera
The wildfires — which began late on Friday in Sancheong county — have consumed about 35,810 hectares (88,500 acres) of land and destroyed over 200 structures, including the historic 1,300-year-old Gounsa Buddhist temple.
CNN
Al Jazeera
BBC News
Authorities have deployed some 4,600 personnel and 79 helicopters to contain the blaze, but strong winds reaching 72 to 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph) have hampered firefighting efforts. At least 37,000 people have evacuated so far.
Korea Herald
The New York Times
On Thursday, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety allocated an additional 55 billion won ($37.5 million) of relief funds for the affected regions. This is in addition to a 26 billion won emergency relief fund granted on March 23.
The Korea Times
CNA
Authorities are working to protect UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Hahoe Folk Village, and mobilizing more than 9,000 people and about 120 helicopters to battle the wildfires.
CNA
Al Jazeera
ap
As of Wednesday morning, the firefighting response had achieved a 68% containment rate. Authorities are mobilizing all available resources, including support from the U.S. military in Korea, to combat what officials describe as fires of "unimaginable scale and speed."
Reuters
Korea Herald

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Climate-concerned narrative

Climate change is fundamentally altering the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally. These fires, occurring at unusual times and with unprecedented force, represent a new normal that requires a complete overhaul of traditional firefighting approaches. Large-scale wildfires will become increasingly common, demanding significantly more resources and trained personnel.

Guardian

Sciencedirect

Climate-skeptic narrative

There is too much climate alarmism and unfounded causality when it comes to trying to link wildfires to climate change. As it turns out, the amount of the Earth's surface burned by wildfires has dropped in recent years. Wildfires are often the result of complex land management issues, not a climate crisis.

New York Post

Narrative C

The unprecedented scale of these wildfires highlights the urgent need for increased firefighting resources and infrastructure. The current reliance on helicopters in mountainous terrain has proven insufficient, and the shortage of equipment due to sanctions-related import restrictions has hampered response capabilities. The situation clearly shows that South Korea must enhance its disaster preparedness systems.

Reuters

The Hindu