(4th LD) strong winds-wildfires
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| ▲ A wildfire rages along the coastal hills in the northeastern coast city of Gangneung on April 11, 2023, amid typhoon-class strong winds. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Korean Red Cross officials set up disaster relief shelters for wildfire victims at the Gangneung Ice Arena in the northeastern coastal city on April 11, 2023. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Residents of the northeastern coastal city of Gangneung evacuate urgently as a wildfire spreads to their homes on April 11, 2023. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ A house and a nearby hill in Gangneung, northeastern South Korea, are engulfed by flames on April 11, 2023, amid high wind and dry weather warnings for east coast areas. (Yonhap) |
(4th LD) strong winds-wildfires
(4th LD) Main body of east coast wildfire brought under control
(ATTN: UPDATES with main body of wildfire extinguished in headline, paras 1, 3, 5, 7)
SEOUL/GANGNEUNG, South Korea, April 11 (Yonhap) -- Firefighters brought the main body of a massive wildfire in the northeastern coastal city of Gangneung under control eight hours after the blaze broke out, destroyed about 70 homes and buildings, and burned woodland the size of 530 football fields Tuesday.
The wildfire broke out on a hill in Gangneung's Nangok-dong district at around 8:30 a.m. amid the combination of high wind and dry weather warnings issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) for the region earlier.
Fire authorities said the wildfire was mostly extinguished as of 4:30 p.m., partly aided by a heavy spell of rain that began about an hour earlier.
From early Tuesday, typhoon-class strong winds with an instantaneous maximum speed reaching 30 meters per second blew over Gangneung, 168 kilometers east of Seoul, and other east coast areas of Gangwon Province.
The fire rapidly spread to the district's residential areas due to gusty winds, burning 379 hectares of woodland, the equivalent of 530 football fields, 40 homes, 28 pension houses and three hotels, according to the city's fire officials. One resident and two firefighters were injured.
The officials speculate that the wildfire may have been caused by a wind-damaged pine tree touching an electric wire before spreading to the nearby forest.
The city government sent a disaster warning message to the fire-stricken district's residents, asking them to evacuate to schools, community service centers or the Gangneung Ice Arena. So far, 557 people have reportedly taken shelter in those places.
Some 700 tourists staying in nearby accommodations also evacuated to safe places in case there is an emergency.
A total of 15 elementary and secondary schools along the east coast suspended classes and sent students home.
The fire authorities raised their response posture to the highest level and mobilized more than 2,764 firefighters and 396 fire trucks, though their firefighting efforts were hampered by strong winds.
Helicopters were initially all grounded due to the strong winds but three took part in the firefighting operations in the early afternoon, when the wind abated.
In Seoul, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the government to swiftly use all available equipment and manpower to extinguish the wildfires as soon as possible and prevent casualties, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.
The KMA has also issued a strong wind advisory elsewhere in the nation, including central inland and western and southern coastal areas, saying the unusual weather conditions have occurred because the Korean Peninsula is located between high pressure to the south and low pressure to the north.
In addition, the state weather agency issued a cold wave advisory for dozens of cities and counties throughout the country as of Tuesday morning.
Wildfires destroy 70 homes, massive woodland on east coast amid typhoon-class strong winds[https://youtu.be/ugp1vq8CB3w]
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