On Thursday April 4, 2019, a transformer fire started a wildfire in Eastern Gangwon Province. The fires then spread to the cities of Sokcho and Gangneung according to Reuters. According to the Gangwon Fire Headquarters, fire broke out on a roadside in Goseong before spreading to a nearby mountain. Strong winds in the region are blamed for the fire’s quick spread.
Meanwhile, a separate fire also started on Thursday April 4 in Okgye County, Gangneung.
The fire in the Sokcho region has been contained, the South Korean government said, while about 50 percent of the fire in the Gangneung region has been contained as of early Friday.
As firefighters continue to contain the flames, one person has been confirmed dead and 11 injured, while 4,000 plus people have been evacuated from the region. The injury toll is expected to climb as firefighters work to extinguish the flames.
“As the wind is especially strong, we are focusing more on reducing casualties than extinguishing the fire,” Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon told Yonhap.
As of Friday April 5, 2019, 52 schools closed, and 2,263 citizens were evacuated to gymnasiums. This number is down from 4,230 citizens on Thursday.
According to the National Fire Agency, 872 fire trucks and 3,251 firefighters from all over South Korea are helping to contain the fire. South Korea’s Ministry of Defense said 16,500 soldiers, 32 military helicopters, and 26 military firetrucks have also been deployed. There are also plans to provide meals for 6,800 people affected by the fires.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said “4 billion won in special subsidies will be issued for containing the fires and cleaning up debris, along with 250 million won in disaster relief funds for temporary accommodation and daily necessities for evacuees.”
Gangwon Province is located close to the North Korean border and the Sea of Japan. According to Aljazeera, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Friday it plans to inform North Korea about the forest fires.
Gangwon Province gained national attention in 2018 when Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Photo credits: Reuters, The Strait Times
—-Olivia Murray
User Review
( votes)1 response to “Wildfires Rage in South Korea’s Gangwon Province”
Leave a Reply
Related Articles
International Sensation THE RAIN Announces “STILL RAINING” Comeback Tour
Legacy K-POP Artist Kicks Off Tour in the U.S. with Two Shows K-pop legend and international phenom THE RAIN (Jung Ji-hoon) is making his return to the United States with the highly anticipated STILL RAINING tour. The US leg of the tour... Read More
K-POP SUPERSTARS CRAVITY UNVEIL NEW SONG “CHEESE” NEW ALBUM SUN SEEKER OUT SEPTEMBER 11
Rising K-pop boy group CRAVITY unveil a new song and music video “Cheese;” listen/share HERE and watch/share the video HERE. The track—which illustrates the band’s idea of a fun and special day—will be featured on their much... Read More
Japanese rock band I Don’t Like Mondays. and Korean creator DPR CREAM release collaboration single ‘conversation’
Japanese rock band I Don’t Like Mondays. released their new album ‘RUNWAYWednesday, September 6). The album features five brand new songs. One particular highlight is ‘conversation’, a collaboration with South Korean creator DPR... Read More
2023 Everglow US Tour [All My Girls]
Everglow will be in concert at The Wiltern on November 22. Tickets on sale now. For more information Click Here #Everglow #EverglowUSTour #LosAngeles #kcrushnews#EverglowAllMyGirlsUSTour #kcrushamerica #TheWiltern #ticketsonsale... Read More
Japanese singer-songwriter HIRAIDAI releases lyric video for ‘HONEY&MOON’, from his ‘SURF & TURF (Deluxe Edition)’ EP
Download & streaming links ‘HONEY&MOON’ lyric video Japanese singer-songwriter HIRAIDAI has released a lyric video for his song ‘HONEY&MOON’, which was published on August 30 as a YouTube Premiere release. The song... Read More
The second season of the anime series ‘Kizuna no Allele’ hits screens on TV Tokyo, Tv Osaka and TV Aichi on Wednesday October 4th, 2023. The 3rd main graphic for the series has also been released!
I’m Going All In, to Become the Me I Want to Be New Information Revealed Hitting screens on October 4th on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka and TV Aichi! Coming to Animax on October 14th! The 3rd main graphic has also been unveiled! A marathon of the first... Read More
Japanese 4-piece rock band – WENDY 1st Album” Don’t waste my YOUTH” & lead track”SCREAM” Music Video is released！ This album’s sound producer is Marc Whitmore！
WENDY is Japanese 4-piece rock band and average age of WENDY is 18 years. Their song has been added to 30 playlists on Spotify and north America’s and UK’s listener is increasing now. Finally, WENDY’s 1st Album, ”Don’t waste my... Read More
Anime series ‘Baki Hanma’ opening and ending themes ‘Sarracenia -Anime Size-’ by SKY-HI and ‘Salvia -Anime Size-’ by BE:FIRST are now streaming! Opening/ending videos with credits removed also out now!
Coinciding with the August 24 release of the new season of father-son face-off anime series ‘Baki Hanma’, the opening theme song ‘Sarracenia -Anime Size-’ by SKY-HI and ending theme song ‘Salvia -Anime Size-’ by BE:FIRST have been... Read More
Jeon Somi Game Plan EP Release
On August 7, 2023, Canadian-Dutch-Korean singer-songwriter, JEON SOMI, is back and better than ever, as she releases her brand-new EP entitled GAME PLAN along with the music video for the energetic and upbeat title track “Fast... Read More
INTRODUCING K-POP SUPERSTARS CRAVITY PERFORMING AT NYC, LA, MEXICO CITY FESTIVALS THIS AUGUST FURTHER NEW MUSIC IMMINENT
photo credit: Starship Entertainment Introducing CRAVITY: the nine-member, K-pop boy group who are taking the world by storm. Debuting as a group in 2020 with Starship Entertainment, they have been rapidly growing in popularity and... Read MoreOur Advertisers
I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about this until now. I’m praying everyone who had to be evacuated is okay and their homes are okay.
#BTSGiveaway