At least 18 dead as ‘unprecedented’ wildfires rage across South Korea

Al Jazeera:

At least 18 people have been killed and almost 20 injured as wildfires rage in multiple areas across South Korea’s southeastern region where thousands of firefighters and soldiers are struggling to control rapidly expanding blazes, officials said.

South Korea’s official Yonhap news agency said the death toll had reached 18 on Wednesday, the sixth day of the fires, which are being fuelled by strong and dry winds.

According to Yonhap, four victims burned to death after they tried to escape the fires but their car overturned. They were found dead on a road late on Tuesday night.

The Korea Forest Service said firefighters are fighting at least five active wildfires nationwide as of Wednesday morning.

The wildfires began late on Friday in Sancheong county in Northern Gyeongsang province before spreading to neighbouring Uiseong county – located about 180km (111 miles) southeast of the capital Seoul – and have advanced into Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok counties.