Main wildfire devastating South Korea’s east coast extinguished

Seoul, Mar 13 (EFE).- The main wildfire out of several raging in the eastern, coastal parts of South Korea for more than a week has been extinguished, the Korea Forest Service said Sunday.

It was the worst single wildfire in the country’s history.

The KFS said that it had managed to extinguish the biggest of the active fires, which began in the eastern coastal city of Uljin on Mar. 4 and became South Korea’s most devastating blaze to date after spreading to neighboring municipalities.

This fire is estimated to have burned some 20,923 hectares of woodland and damaged 319 homes. No casualties have been reported so far.

Firefighters took 213 hours and 43 minutes to extinguish the main fire, according to the KFS, which, however, noted that other fires that had spread to areas near Uljin, located about 330 kilometers (205 miles) southeast of Seoul, are still active.

More than 1,600 personnel, 372 fire engines and 88 helicopters have been involved in operations to douse the flames since last week. EFE

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