Seoul, South Korea — Thousands of Korean firefighters and troops were fighting a large wildfire that tore the East Coast region on Saturday and temporarily threatened nuclear power plants and liquefied natural gas plants.
A fire that broke out in the mountains of Uljin’s seaside town on Friday morning and spread over more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) in nearby Samcheok City destroyed at least 159 homes and 46 buildings, and many more. I urged evacuation. Over 6,200 people.
The images of Jinjin and Sansho show a large band of white and gray smoke coming out of a mountain slope covering the east coast of the country, and a firefighter operating a water hose in the thick smoke-like air. It showed that it was.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. According to the South Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety, authorities were investigating the cause of the rapidly expanding flames in strong winds and dry conditions.
As of Saturday afternoon, approximately 7,000 firefighters, troops, civil servants, 65 helicopters and 513 vehicles were deployed to contain the fire.
Choi Byung-am, Minister of the Korea Forest Service, told reporters at a briefing in Uljin.
Hundreds of firefighters worked all night to prevent the flames from spreading to the LNG production facility in Samcheok, just north of Uljin.
President Moon Jae-in warned that a fire broke out around the seaside nuclear power plant in Jae-in on Friday afternoon, forcing him to cut operations to 50% and shut down some power lines as a precautionary measure. Issued.
Hundreds of firefighters were deployed in the factory and continued to control the flames before the wind headed north towards Samcheok.
follow