The ruling People Power Party leader asked the government Wednesday to designate the northeastern coastal city of Gangneung hit by a massive wildfire as a special disaster zone eligible for various types of state support.
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon made the suggestion at a party meeting held a day after a fire broke out in the seaside city, 168 kilometers east of Seoul, destroying about 70 homes and buildings, and burning woodland the size of 530 football fields.
Firefighters brought the main body of the blaze under control Tuesday afternoon, but one man in his 80s was found dead and 16 other people were injured in the fire.
According to local authorities, 649 people from 323 households have evacuated to a shelter.
"The country should actively provide help to the fire victims that have suddenly lost their homes they have lived in until now," Kim said. (Yonhap)
