SEOUL/CHANGWON--The South Korean government declared a state of national disaster Saturday over massive wildfires in southeastern regions that have claimed four lives.
The measure took effect in Ulsan city, North Gyeongsang Province and South Gyeongsang Province as of 6 p.m., the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said.
The announcement followed acting President Choi Sang-mok's recommendation to issue the declaration in order to implement comprehensive measures to combat the disaster and aid recovery efforts.
Choi also ordered government officials to consider designating the affected areas as special disaster zones.
Shortly before the declaration, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, chaired by acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong, began operation, the ministry said.
The decision came as multiple wildfires were reported in Ulsan city and other southeastern counties, including Sancheong County.
The county office said two missing fire officials were found dead, raising the death toll to four. Six people, including one resident, were injured.
Eight villages in Sancheong were placed under evacuation orders as strong winds hampered firefighting efforts a day after the fire first broke out on Friday afternoon.
More than 260 villagers lost their homes and sought refuge in temporary shelters.
In the region, 35 percent of the blaze had been extinguished as of 5 p.m., down from 70 percent at 10:30 a.m., due to strong winds.
Acting President Choi visited the site earlier in the day and ordered relevant agencies to make the utmost effort to mobilize all possible equipment and personnel to put out the blaze before sunset.
He also urged safety for residents, as well as firefighting authorities deployed to the scene, stressing that seamless preparations should take place should the blaze continue overnight.
A wildfire in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, broke out earlier in the day, affecting 300 hectares of forest, according to authorities.
Firefighters had extinguished 4 percent of the blaze as of 5 p.m., while some 500 villagers were displaced.
Train operations through the affected region were temporarily suspended and highway traffic in the area was also blocked.
Another fire in Ulju County in western Ulsan forced the evacuation of around 80 residents.
Meanwhile, the Korea Forest Service raised the wildfire emergency level to its highest as of 3:30 p.m., with 16 wildfires reported nationwide amid strong winds. (Yonhap)
