At least 26 people had been killed and 30 others wounded as wildfires were continuing to ravage South Korea's southeastern regions, said the country's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Thursday.
As of 05:00 local time Thursday, over 37,000 residents had been evacuated, with nearly 30,000 reported in the hardest-hit areas of Andong City and nearby county of Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province.
By Wednesday afternoon, the wildfires had impacted an estimated 37,000 hectares in the Andong City, destroying structures and vehicles. Thick smoke continued to blanket the region, forcing many businesses, including restaurants and markets, to remain closed or operate on reduced hours.
Displaced residents expressed their despair and concerns for livelihood.
"There's nothing left in my home. Such a good house, all destroyed," a resident lamented.
"Farm tools such as dryers and fertilizer tools were all burned. About 200 pyeong (660 square meters) of my garlic field is burned. How will I make a living?" said another resident.
The death toll includes a helicopter pilot who engaged in firefighting operations at mountain areas in Uiseong on Wednesday. As of 05:00 Thursday, the wildfires had scorched over 36,000 hectares of forest, becoming the most severe wildfire disaster in the country's history, beating the 2000 wildfire on the east coast, which burned 23,800 hectares of forest.
Wildfires ravage southern South Korea, killing at least 26 people
Wildfires ravage southern South Korea, killing at least 26 people
A rescue team from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) arrived in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of Myanmar, on Sunday evening, and swiftly proceeded to the area hardest hit by a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake to assist in search and rescue operations.
The 51-member team, after a brief rest at the Myanmar National Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Nay Pyi Taw, geared up for an overnight journey to Mandalay, the city closest to the quake's epicenter, to begin their crucial rescue efforts.
"I am part of the support team from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA). This time, the HA has dispatched two doctors and two nurses to join the HKSAR rescue mission. We have prepared for possible emergencies, including bringing a large stock of medical supplies and equipment such as ventilators and blood pressure monitors," said Chiu Yuet Chung, one of the rescuers.
"As soon as we received news of such a severe disaster, we immediately began extensive preparations in Hong Kong. While the 'golden 72 hours ' are critical, we ensured that we could deploy as quickly as possible. This time, we were able to prepare and depart in a very short time," said Kong Ka-ho, a senior officer from Hong Kong's Fire Services Department.
Kong said the rescue team had prepared a wide range of equipment, including life-detecting radars, drones, 360-degree cameras, and demolition tools, to assist in the precise search and rescue of trapped individuals.
According to the Hong Kong SAR Government's Security Bureau, the 51-member rescue team comprises personnel from the Security Bureau, Fire Services Department, Immigration Department, and the Hospital Authority. The team also includes two fire search and rescue dogs.
The earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday noon was the largest of the year so far and the strongest continental seismic activity globally in nearly a decade. At least 1,700 people died, 3,400 were injured, and 300 remained missing as of Sunday noon, according to the country's State Administration Council on Sunday.
China's HK rescue team rushes to Myanmar quake epicenter to search for survivors
