Century age Buddhist temple destroyed by devastating fires in South Korea

Century age Buddhist temple destroyed by devastating fires in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea - the South Korean authorities have once again used fire helicopters after a tragic helicopter crash, which led to temporary floor posture from the fire aircraft. This decision was made, while the emergency services are trying to combat the "unprecedented" and fatal forest fires that devastate the southeast of the country and have destroyed a centuries -old Buddhist temple.

crash of the helicopter and follow

The helicopter crashed while trying to contain a rapidly spreading fire in the Uiseong district, more than 200 kilometers southeast of the capital Seoul. The pilot, the only inmate, was confirmed as dead.

devastating forest fires in South Korea

thick, orange flames, heated by dry air and strong winds, have hit the southern regions of South Korea and sparked the worst forest fires in recent years. According to the Associated Press news agency, at least 27 people were killed and over 30,000 were forced to escape from their houses. In addition, over 300 buildings were destroyed, with numerous historical sites threatened.

number of victims and affected places

The GONSA Temple and its historical meaning

The 1,300-year-old Gunsa temple in the Uiseong district, an important Buddhist landmark, is one of the numerous buildings that burned down to the bottom, while only the ceremonial bell remained somewhat intact, photos of the Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism report. However, thanks to their previous shift to other temples, some artifacts of the historical location, including a stone Buddha designated as a treasure, were spared.

Current location of the forest fires

On Thursday, the forest fires had already devastated 36,010 hectares of land, according to the disaster reaction center of the South Korean government. In the past few days, the fires have spread and has been dangerously fed near the historical Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The residents of the village were asked to evacuate while the fire brigade tried to protect the traditional "Hanok" houses by using water around the site.

Explanation of the Prime Minister

Han Duck-Soo, the South Korean Prime Minister and incumbent president, expressed that the fires are the worst that the country has experienced in recent years and have caused “unprecedented damage”. "We have to concentrate all our possibilities on combating the forest fires this week because we are concerned about the unprecedented damage caused by forest fires," Han told journalists.

massive forces for fire fighting

More than 10,000 firefighters, police officers and civil servants have been sent to several affected areas in the south since the weekend. In Andong and other areas in the southeast, the residents were asked to evacuate on Tuesday, since strong and dry winds made it difficult to combat the fires. By Wednesday, 68 % of the fire in Uiseong and Andong were under control, the authorities report.

The reality of the climate crisis

The forest fires are created by a variety of factors, but with the increase in the climate crisis, the hot and dry weather is heated up, causing the fire to burn faster and more intensely. Unusually warm spring temperatures in South Korea have dry out the landscape and, together with strong winds, created the stage for quick fire, which eats through the dense forests of the region.

How many forest fires were there?

This year 244 forest fires have so far been reported in South Korea, which corresponds to an increase of 2.4 times compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Han, the country's prime minister. Until Wednesday, the forest fires were still active in several areas of North and South Kyeongsang and in the city of Ulsan.

outlook and measures

The authorities have published a warning of dry weather conditions for those affected and other south -eastern regions. However, it is hoped that the rain announced for Thursday will help the firefighters to fight the flames in their efforts. "We urge the population to pay special attention and work together to prevent forest fires so that our neighbors do not have to suffer the same pain that the large forest fires cause every year," said Han.