A rapidly spreading wildfire in northeastern South Korea has forced expanded evacuations and a broader highway shutdown, as authorities escalated their emergency response Saturday.
The fire broke out around 1:11 p.m. local time in a mountainous area near Inje County, about 150 kilometers northeast of Seoul. Fueled by dry conditions, the blaze quickly spread smoke toward nearby communities, prompting officials to send evacuation alerts and direct residents to designated shelters.
By mid-afternoon, the Korea Forest Service raised the wildfire alert from Level 1 to Level 2, indicating that the expected burn area could exceed 50 hectares but remain below 100 hectares.
Under the heightened alert, Inje County authorities advised residents to evacuate to four shelters, including local gymnasiums and the Girin Administrative Welfare Center. Neighboring towns — including Yangyang County, Sokcho City, and Goseong County — also issued disaster warnings, urging residents to prepare for possible evacuation.
Traffic disruptions intensified as road authorities shut down both directions of the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway – a key highway connecting the capital to the country’s east coast – between Nachon Interchange and Yangyang Tollgate. Vehicles were rerouted onto national highways as a precaution.
Firefighting operations have been ramped up, with 19 helicopters, 34 fire engines, and hundreds of personnel deployed in an effort to contain the fire before nightfall.
Inje County, located in Gangwon Province, is known for its rugged, forested terrain, making it particularly vulnerable to wildfires during South Korea’s dry spring season.
As of Saturday afternoon, no injuries or major structural damage had been reported, but officials warned that conditions could change rapidly and urged continued vigilance.
Authorities said emergency operations would continue overnight if necessary.
mjh@heraldcorp.com
