A resident looks on as a wildfire devastates the area in Andong, South Korea | Photo Credit: via Reuters: The Hindu

Blazes of fire, death tolls sky rocking, piece by piece flames tear apart central and southern regions of South Korea. At least now, 26 people have been presumed dead, and more than 23,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes. 

On March 21st, 2025, fires erupted in Sancheong County, rapidly growing as winds blew flames as high as 20 meters per second. It was noted that about “17,000 acres of forest has gone up in flames” from BBC news. Raging fires also took down a long standing temple, the Gounsa Temple, that stood in Uiseong City for 1300 years. Residents that had to evacuate were staying in schools, local gyms, and churches that were providing shelter. The government claims to take the fires into serious matters; recruiting thousands of firefighters to help with the extinction of the fires. One reporter considered it to be South Korea’s “worst fires ever” because it is not a place prone to big fires like these ones. 

The people

One of the many houses burnt down belonged to sweet old grandparents that had nowhere to go when their homes turned to ash. Unfortunately, most people reported dead were people in their 60s and 70s because South Korea’s society is on the older side. Along with citizens of South Korea, a pilot was among the dead. The pilot was in a helicopter fighting the wildfires, working to contain them leading to the fatal crash.

How? Why? 

Recently, South Korea has not been experiencing as much rainfall, creating drier conditions than in the previous years. In South Korea, there have been 244 wildfires this year alone. This is a major increase from last year. Climate was also a prime suspect for these fires. The temperature had already reached 20 degrees Celsius, which also dried the land out. Although this could be the start of these tormental flames, according to BBC News, authorities believe that the fires were “started by accident from local human activities”. In the distance, there are looks of rain, so hopefully the fires will eventually tame and burn out.

Solution

The government is working closely with the people of South Korea, insuring them of the importance of not setting anything on fire as this is a potential of what it could turn into. They marched door to door policing people, in hopes this prevents other wildfires in the future. The government promised a strong enforcement of consequences in the future regarding illegal burning to keep everyone safe. 

Only time will tell if South Korea can recover from this tragedy, but for now the nation stands in the shadows of smoke from their worst fires yet.