Situated in East Asia, South Korea is a country located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula, sharing its northern border with North Korea. The Yellow Sea lies to its west, and the Sea of Japan borders its eastern side. The nation claims to be the only lawful government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands, and it boasts a population of 51.75 million.
According to NPR, a wildfire fueled by strong winds swept through a central part of Gangneung, an eastern coastal city in South Korea, destroying around 70 homes and other buildings. The report further indicates that more than 2,700 firefighters and 300 vehicles were dispatched to fight the blaze, and over 520 residents were evacuated to temporary housing facilities.
The Korea Forest Services said that the fire which started around 8am, Tuesday the 11th of April, was likely sparked by a tree that fell over a powerline after being snapped by strong winds. The fire reportedly started on a mountain and quickly spread, covering more than 936 acres before firefighters put out 88% of the flames by 3:30 p.m.
To prevent the loss of life, the South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has directed officials to deploy all possible resources and personnel to quickly put out the wildfire and evacuate the residents.
