South Korea is in trouble as big forest fires rage in the south, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and forcing many families to evacuate their homes. The fires started in the Sancheong area on Friday, and firefighters are working hard to control them. As of Saturday night, the fire in Sancheong was only 25% put out.
The Korea Forest Service reports that around 847 hectares (about 2,000 acres) of land have been burned. About 260 residents in Sancheong had to leave their homes because of the smoke and danger. In the nearby city of Ulsan and the Gyeongsang province, around 620 people are also seeking shelter as another fire broke out on Saturday.
To help fight the flames, emergency services have sent out many fire trucks and hundreds of workers. The government has declared a state of disaster in southern areas to quickly get the resources needed to stop the fires. Sancheong has even been named a special disaster zone.
This disaster is happening at a time when South Korea is dealing with serious political issues, following a controversial martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol last December. Currently, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is acting as president due to the situation.
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