South Korea is burning: 27 dead in devastating forest fires!

South Korea is burning: 27 dead in devastating forest fires!

On March 27, 2025, South Korea will be hit by its worst wildfires in history. To date, the devastating fires have cost 27 people their lives, including numerous elderly people as well as three firefighters and a helicopter pilot. According to the civil protection authority, dozens more people were injured and around 37,000 people had to leave their homes.

The fires have devastated more than 35,800 hectares of land in South Korea, marking the highest death toll since the Forest Service began recording them in 1987. Lee Han Kyung, the head of the disaster management agency, reports that the area burned is higher than in the most devastating fires in 2000. More than 1,000 firefighters and several hundred soldiers are deployed to extinguish the fires, supported by US Army helicopters.

Destruction of historical sites

The destruction of several historical sites is particularly tragic. A temple over 1,000 years old has been completely burned down, while UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Hahoe and Byeongsan Seowon are under threat. Firefighters are spraying three tons of water every day on the threatened historic buildings to protect them from the flames.

Experts point to climate change as one of the main reasons for the intensity of these fires. Climatologist Yeh Sang Wook and Professor Hong Suk Hwan point out that last year was the hottest on record, with an average temperature of 14.5 degrees Celsius—two degrees above the 30-year average. In addition, rainfall amounts in the current season are only about half of normal, further exacerbating the situation.

Global perspective and future implications

In a global context, the increase in forest fires due to climate change is becoming increasingly clear. According to the interactive ESA World Fire Atlas The global average fire season has lengthened by two weeks since 1979. Studies show that higher temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events pose a significant risk of forest and bushfires. This has also led to large losses of land in other countries, such as Greece and Italy.

The situation is alarming: Canada is currently experiencing the worst wildfire season in its history, where over 10 million hectares of land have already burned. As of July 29, 2023, more than 234,516 hectares of land have burned in the EU, underlining the need to seriously consider the causes and consequences of global wildfires.

This disaster in South Korea requires rapid and effective action to not only address the current fires, but also minimize future risks from climate change.

Find out more about the impact of the fires here: Vol.at and Spiegel.de.