Raging wildfires kill at least 18

 Wildfires in South Korea have caused the death of at least 18 people, with blazes causing “unprecedented damage”, acting president Han Duck-soo said on Wednesday.

Han told an emergency safety and disaster meeting that the blazes were “developing in a way that is exceeding both existing prediction models and earlier expectations.”

“This is a full-scale national response,” the acting president said, adding that the government has raised the crisis alert to its highest level.

What do we know about the wildfires?

Safety Ministry officials told the French AFP news agency that six people were seriously injured and about 13 others suffered minor injuries.

More than a dozen fires began from Friday in Sancheong County in the southeast of Seoul. Dry winds and a prolonged drought spurred them on and slowed down rescue efforts.

“Throughout the night, chaos continued as power and communication lines were cut in several areas and roads were blocked,” Han said. 

Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze. However, Han acknowledged that “constantly shifting wind directions and ongoing dry weather advisories have revealed the limitations of conventional fire fighting methods.”

Thousands have been ordered to evacuate as firefighters are working to control the flames. The Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also endangered.

Authorities also evacuated thousands of prisoners out of detention centers in affected counties.

Strong winds of up to 25 meters per second affected helicopter and drone rescue operations. 

What did witnesses say?

Many evacuees had to flee at a few moments’ notice.

“The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house,” Kwon So-han, a 79-year-old resident of Andong told AFP. “Those who haven’t experienced it won’t know. I could only bring my body.”

The government said it was working to provide shelter and support to those rescued. Many residents were being moved to temporary shelters, the acting president said, adding that authorities were trying to provide emergency relief and financial support to them.

Weather forecast predicts rain on Wednesday, which authorities are hoping will provide some relief and aid rescue operations.

Wildfires are common in South Korea during the dry season, but climate change has made the intensity much higher.