Fire near Goseong is possibly biggest forest fire ever
In this Thursday, April 4, 2019 photo, a wildfire burns in Goseong, South Korea. A few people died and thousands were evacuated after strong winds fanned a large fire Friday burning in a mountainous South Korean province that hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, officials said. (Lee Jong-geun/Yonhap via AP)
By JUNG-YOON KIM and KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Firefighters managed to extinguish most of a massive forest fire that ripped through South Korea’s mountainous northern coast Friday, destroying 135 homes and forcing more than 4,000 to flee the region that hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics.
One person was killed by what government officials said was possibly the country’s biggest forest fire ever. Another person was fatally struck by an object blown over by the high winds fanning the flames.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said fires in in the county of Goseong and nearby coastal city of Sokcho were fully extinguished. Strong winds also carried the blaze to the towns of Gangneung and Inje, but the ministry said fires in those areas were 70 to 80% extinguished.
Burnt vehicles fill a junkyard after being hit by a massive forest fire in Sokcho, South Korea, Friday, April 5, 2019. The fire likely started Thursday night from a transformer spark near a resort in the town of Goseong in Gangwon province about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Seoul and then spread to the nearby mountains, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters. (Choe Eun-ji/Yonhap via AP)
The fire likely started Thursday night from a transformer spark near a resort in Goseong and then spread to the mountains, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters. Gangwon province governs the Olympic host city of Pyeongchang and is about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Seoul.
Videos posted to social media in South Korea showed tall flames rising from large areas of forest, the air filled with embers and debris as cars drove by the raging fire. News photos showed a burnt-out bus, fire engulfing a hill, and residents evacuating apartment complexes and filing into gyms.
The region is close to the border with North Korea. South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Friday it plans to inform North Korea of details about the forest fires.
A burnt vehicle sits after being hit by a massive forest fire in Sokcho, South Korea, Friday, April 5, 2019. The fire likely started Thursday night from a transformer spark near a resort in the town of Goseong in Gangwon province about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Seoul and then spread to the nearby mountains, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters. (Choe Eun-ji/Yonhap via AP)
The ministry said 135 homes and more than 100 other buildings were burned. About 525 hectares (2 square miles) of forest was estimated to have been destroyed.
About 60 helicopters, 300 vehicles and 17,700 firefighting personnel were being deployed, the ministry said. The fire also caused blackouts in Goseong, disruptions in telecommunications and internet services, a temporary shutdown of a highway, and delays in train services from Gangneung to Seoul.
This aerial photo shows burnt vehicles filling a junkyard after being hit by a massive forest fire in Sokcho, South Korea, Friday, April 5, 2019. The fire likely started Thursday night from a transformer spark near a resort in the town of Goseong in Gangwon province about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Seoul and then spread to the nearby mountains, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters. (Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap via AP)
Authorities said a 60-year-old man died because of the fire, and a woman in her 70s died after being hit by wide-angle mirror on a road that fell because of strong winds. Eleven people were treated for injuries. The government didn’t comment on the nature of the injuries or how many were serious.
The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he called for all available resources to be deployed.
The fire hasn’t threatened the Olympic sports facilities, including the main venues in Pyeongchang, the alpine center in Jeongseon, and the skating centers in seaside Gangneung.
Residents rest at a shelter during a wildfire in Sokcho, South Korea, Friday, April 5, 2019. The fire likely started Thursday night from a transformer spark near a resort in the town of Goseong and then spread to the nearby mountains, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters. Gangwon province governs the Olympic host city of Pyeongchang and is about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Seoul. (Choe Jae-hoon/Yonhap via AP)
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Associated Press writer Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report.
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