Summary

  • Firefighters are racing to save people and ancient artefacts from the largest wildfires in South Korea's history, which have killed at least 27 people so far

  • Tens of thousands have also been displaced in the blazes, which started in the south-east on 21 March

  • Most of those killed were in their 60s and 70s, local officials say

  • Eyewitnesses described apocalyptic scenes as fires engulfed their homes, with one man telling the BBC the damage in his city has been "devastating"

  • Authorities believe human activities started multiple fires, but strong winds and dry land allowed them to spread quickly

  • The winds also make it dangerous for helicopters to operate - one crashed while fighting the fires on Tuesday

  • The fires have gutted a 1,300-year-old temple in Uiseong city and are threatening other cultural sites

Watch: Historic Buddhist temples burn in South Korea wildfires

Live Reporting

Edited by Sean Seddon, with reporting from Jake Kwon, David Oh, Hyunjung Kim, and Suhnwook Lee in Seoul

  1. Firefighting continues as South Korea begins to reflect on its loss

    A woman taking a photograph of a building damaged by fireReuters

    At least 27 people have died in what have grown into the largest wildfires in South Korea's history. Most of those who have lost their lives were in their 60s and 70s - in other words, those who struggled to escape the fast-moving infernos.

    The figure includes three care home residents who died when their car was engulfed by the flames as they tried to escape, local media reported.

    Tens of thousands have been displaced and efforts are continuing to protect ancient historical sites which lie in the path of the five fires which are continuing to rage.

    BBC Weather forecasters have analysed the data to see if any relief is on the horizon. There is some good news: temperatures will fall and some rain will arrive - but it is feared it will not be enough to stop the fires in their tracks.

    We're pausing our live coverage for the time being but you can read more analysis on the cause and fallout of the unprecedented natural disaster elsewhere on the BBC News website.

  2. More areas designated disaster zones

    Four more areas have been declared special disaster zones, meaning the government will channel more damage recovery and victim relief into those places.

    The latest areas to be added to the list are Gyeongbuk Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok forest.

    A number of other areas, including Sancheong, Ulju and Ulsan, had already been made special disaster zones.

    Korea's forest service says five major fires are continuing to burn.

    A map of South Korea's wildfires

  3. Fires come at a time of political uncertainty for South Korea

    Yoon Suk YeolEPA

    President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by parliament in December

    The South Korean government is grappling with the fires at a time of great uncertainty over the country's leadership.

    Earlier this week, the attempted impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was thrown out by the Supreme Court, meaning he resumed his role as the country's acting leader a matter of days ago.

    Meanwhile, the wait continues to hear from the court over whether it will uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law last year, which cast the country into an unprecedented political crisis.

    Yoon has also been charged with insurrection, which is punishable by life in prison or death.

    This chaotic period has also seen the government having to grapple with the fatal Jeju Air passenger plane crash that killed 179 people.

  4. Some relief in weather forecast - but it may not be enough

    Ben Rich
    Lead weather presenter

    A cold front moving southwards across the region is bringing an end to the exceptional spring heat that has helped to fuel the wildfires.

    Temperatures that have been well above the seasonal norm will fall dramatically and will actually be a few degrees below average over the next few days.

    However, what is really needed is heavy and persistent rain.

    While some rain is falling across parts of South Korea right now, it will continue to be mostly light and patchy in nature. Crucially, it will also be quite hit-and-miss, so while some places will get a decent downpour others are likely to remain fairly dry.

    Scattered wintry showers are expected over the weekend, but not everywhere will see them.

    This certainly doesn’t look like a significant spell of really wet weather - which is what would be needed to break the ongoing drought conditions.

    Strong winds have also been helping to spread wildfires, and the forecast remains windy over the next few days.

  5. In pictures: Unprecedented fires tear through South Korea

    A man stands in the corner of the frame, large amounts of rubble lie on the ground with the burnt remains of the Goun Temple in the centreEPA

    The burnt remains of the Goun Temple in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province - one of several it is feared stand in the way of flames

    A number of soldiers stand around extinguishing a hotspot. Smoke rises from the groundEPA

    The military has been drafted in to help put out fires in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province

    A firefighting helicopter drops water as it flies over a forestReuters

    A helicopter drops water over a forest in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang, as work continues to tackle the wildfires

  6. Some relief as rain begins to fall in Uiseong County

    Rain has begun to fall in parts of Uiseong County in North Gyeongsang Province, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

    The area has been among the hardest hit by the fires. The 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple, which is located in Uiseong city, was destroyed by the blaze.

    However, as we reported earlier, forecasters fear the amount of rain expected will not be enough to stop the fires spreading.

    We'll have a closer look at the impact the weather could have on fuelling or containing the fires shortly.

  7. Fires continue to rage after nearly a week

    If you're just joining our ongoing live coverage of the deadly South Korea wildfires, here are the main details you need to know:

    • At least 27 people have been killed so far, according to the country's interior ministry, making these fires the deadliest in the country's history
    • A further 32 people have been injured and thousands have been displaced
    • Most of those killed were in their 60s and 70s, local officials say
    • Since the first blaze started on 21 March, the wildfires have reached 35,810 hectares (88,500 acres) and are now the "largest on record"
    • Dry conditions and high winds are making the blazes difficult to contain
    • Efforts are under way to try and protect ancient heritage sites and artefacts but some have already been lost

  8. The vulnerability of South Korea's temples

    Hosu Lee and Koh Ewe
    Reporting from Seoul and Singapore

    A large broken bell sitting amid debris in front of a templeGetty Images

    As flames rage on in South Korea's south-east, the scorched remains of the 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong have become perhaps the most prominent symbol of the destruction.

    As we reported earlier, workers are scrambling to move artefacts out of the flames' reach, as other temples come under threat as well.

    Back in 2022, South Korea's fire department urged "extreme caution" in preventing fires breaking out at temples, noting that the wooden structures of traditional temples in the country make them highly vulnerable to flames.

    If the initial firefighting efforts fail, a small blaze can quickly escalate into a major fire, authorities warned.

    Additionally, many traditional temples are located in mountainous or high-altitude areas, which makes it difficult for fire engines to access them quickly—posing limitations for swift firefighting responses.

    In some cases, trees that retain more water, and are therefore more fire resistant, have been planted around historic temples in an attempt to deter burning.

  9. How common are wildfires in South Korea?

    A man with a firehose douses a large fire burning down a hillsideGetty Images

    Half of South Korea's forest fires in the past decade have occurred in Spring

    This deadly inferno comes as South Korea enters its wildfire season, which typically takes place in the Spring or Autumn.

    There are about 546 forest fires every year – and in the past decade, half of these have occurred between March and May. A quarter have occurred in March.

    Authorities say that in the Autumn, combustible items like fallen leaves, dried out by the sun, raise the risk of forest fires. However, Autumn winds are generally not as strong as in Spring, limiting the spread of the fires.

    The rise of average temperatures has also seen more fires breaking out during Winter, authorities say.

    “Even before these wildfires, the country had been experiencing drier-than-usual conditions with less rainfall than average," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said yesterday. "This year alone, there have already been 244 wildfires—2.4 times more than the same period last year.”

  10. 'No request yet for help' - Australia

    Simon Atkinson
    Australia producer, BBC News

    Australia is no stranger to wildfires – or "bushfires" as they call them here – and its rural firefighters, made up largely of volunteers, have honed their skills over summer-after-summer of blazes.

    The country is often called on to help others going through fire disasters by sending expertise, firefighters and equipment. Perhaps most notably, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service’s Large Air Tanker aircraft is regularly sent to help during the US wildfire season.

    A firefighting helicopter flying over a red sun in a smoky skyGetty Images

    South Korea has not reached out to Australia for help fighting off the wildfires

    So far, though, there has been no request for assistance from South Korea, a spokesperson for Australia’s National Emergency Management Agency told the BBC.

    During Australia’s 2019-2020 Black Summer fires, which killed 33 people, South Korea was one of several countries to provide support – including US$1m in aid through the Red Cross, help with satellite imagery and a delegation to offer support for the country’s recovery.

  11. Volunteers pitch in where they can

    Rachel Lee
    BBC Korean

    A silhouette of a man in a hat in front of a flaming backgroundGetty Images

    Everyday South Koreans are supporting firefighters throughout the disaster zone

    Kim Hyun-jung, who lives in Seoul, travelled three hours to Uiseong County where the wildfire initially broke out. Despite the distance, he told BBC Korean that he felt compelled to volunteer.

    "I felt terrible after watching the news. I thought I had to come and help, so I took a train and came here," he said.

    When Kim arrived at Daegu Station, near Uiseong, he could already smell smoke in the air.

    "I was shocked. I told the taxi driver to take me to the nearest place where I could assist firefighters and police at the scene," said Kim, who has since been helping to prepare meals for firefighters.

    "There are many people here willing to help, not just me," he added. "Staff from the forest service are constantly going back and forth, transporting helicopter fuel. Everyone is working around the clock."

  12. The role of climate change

    Ben Rich
    Lead Weather Presenter

    The weather rarely causes wildfires on its own, but it can give conditions that help wildfires to take hold and spread.

    That is exactly what has happened in South Korea. Temperatures several degrees above the seasonal norm have combined with dry ground, strong winds and low humidity to fuel fires that authorities say were ignited by human activity.

    Scientists have been carrying out so-called rapid attribution studies to assess what part climate change has played in creating these conditions.

    Analysis by Climate Central suggests that the high temperatures recorded in parts of South Korea over the last week have been made up to five times more likely by global warming.

    A white sedan and a truck drive down a road under a smoky sky while a South Korean bus sign stands in the foregroundGetty Images

    Human-induced climate change is widely recognised as making wildfires more likely and severe

    Meanwhile, researchers at ClimaMeter say the fires are associated with "exceptional meteorological conditions" that have mostly been strengthened by human-induced climate change.

    This ties in with the findings of the IPCC – the UN’s climate change body – which says the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread are becoming more likely around the globe.

  13. Death toll now at 27

    South Korea's interior ministry said in a statement on Thursday that as of 16:00 local time (07:00 GMT), the wildfires have killed an estimated 27 people and injured 32.

    Prior to the update, 26 people had been confirmed killed and 30 injured.

  14. Where the wildfires are

    BBC Visual Journalism Team

    The largest wildfires in South Korea's recorded history have engulfed more than 35,000 hectares within the space of a week.

    Tens of thousands have been displaced in the blazes, which broke out in Sancheong county on 21 March.

    A map showing the location of wildfires in southern South Korea, with clusters of red dots indicating firesBBC Visual Journalism Team

    Wildfires have engulfed much of North Gyeongsang Province, home to mountain ranges and South Korea's largest concentration of pine forests

  15. How do these compare to recent wildfires around the world?

    A view of a burned-out vehicle surrounded by debris in a smoldering fieldGetty Images

    South Korea's wildfires have already exceeded the scale of the recent Southern California and Western Japan wildfires combined

    The wildfires in South Korea, which started on 21 March and have killed at least 26 people, have since spread to cover more than 36,000 hectares - larger than recent wildfires that have similarly made headlines and sent panic rippling through local communities.

    In January, the Southern California wildfires that tore through 23,000 hectares of land in and around Los Angeles killed 29 people.

    Wildfires in the northern Japanese city of Ofunato earlier this month torched more than 2,600 hectares and killed one person. Thousands were evacuated during those fires, which were the country's worst in half a century.

    New fires have also broken out this week in western Japan, destroying 15 buildings and burning through a cumulative 900 hectares.

    Experts say that climate change has amplified wildfires, especially in temperate areas, making them more frequent and larger.

    South Korea's disaster chief Lee Han-gyeong said on Thursday that the country was "witnessing the reality of climate crisis like never before".

  16. Will the weather provide any relief?

    Ben Rich
    Lead Weather Presenter

    A weather graphic showing South Korea and a cold front moving south-eastwardsBBC Weather

    The weather forecast is predicting patchy rain in the coming days

    The exceptional spring heat that has helped fuel South Korea’s wildfires is set to ease, with temperatures forecast to drop below the seasonal average over the next couple of days.

    That change is being driven by a cold front which is moving south-eastwards at the moment, bringing some outbreaks of much-needed rain, and even some snow over high ground.

    However, the rain will continue to be patchy and quite hit-and-miss – so while a few places will get a decent soaking others are, unfortunately, likely to remain fairly dry.

    Beyond that the weather remains colder, but without much prolonged rain or snow in the forecast.

  17. 'Rain is desperately needed right now'

    Rachel Lee
    BBC Korean

    As the wind is not currently blowing toward Uiseong, some residents have come out to support the emergency crews.

    Among them is Kang Eun-joo, who has volunteered to support firefighters.

    "The fire isn't just in one place - it’s breaking out in multiple areas at the same time. Firefighters are being dispatched across all these different locations," she said.

    When asked about the physical demands of her work, she said "it’s nothing compared to what firefighters are going through, or evacuees who’ve lost their homes".

    She also said the wind is making the situation unpredictable.

    A group of masked firefighters stand beside a fire truckGetty Images

    Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to contain the fires, and are being assisted in places by volunteers

    "Volunteers are keeping a close eye on the news," she explained. "If the wind changes direction and heads toward their hometown, they immediately stop what they're doing and rush back to their homes. That’s how tense things are here."

    At one point, a firefighter briefly stopped by to collect water from volunteers before quickly returning to the scene.

    "The situation is complicated," he said. "Even if we manage to extinguish the fire in one area, flames often reappear from behind. It’s difficult to say how effective our efforts are. Rain is desperately needed right now."

  18. The fight to preserve history

    Jake Kwon
    Reporting from Seoul

    A fireman sprays water out of a hose at the roof of a traditional Korean houseGetty Images

    Firefighters spray water on thatched roof and walls as the wildfire approaches Hahoe village

    Significant effort has been put into ensuring the safety of Hahoe - a beautiful and quaint traditional folk village.

    The fires were mere miles away from this UNESCO heritage site on Wednesday night.

    Like most pre-modern villages, everything in Hahoe is made of flammable material. Firefighters sprayed flame retardant on the thatched roofs and wooden columns. But the area is not in the clear.

    Days earlier, a 7th century Buddhist temple burned down completely. These are places that survived all the major disasters in this country's history, including several wars like the Korean War.

    For many Koreans, destruction by wildfire would have been the least expected fate for these treasured locations.

  19. Pine trees a potential reason for severity of fires - expert

    Richard Kim and Hyunjung Kim
    BBC Korean

    The main reason this wildfire spread so rapidly was the strong winds at the beginning. In the early stages of the fire, gusts reached up to 15 metres per second, leading to frequent occurrences of fire spotting.

    Fire spotting refers to embers being carried by the wind for tens to hundreds of meters, or even over 2km, igniting new fires in distant locations.

    North Gyeongsang Province, where this wildfire occurred, also contains South Korea's largest concentration of pine forests, which are particularly vulnerable to wildfires.

    Silhouettes of trees against flamesGetty Images

    Huge swathes of forest have been torched in the fires

    “Pine trees are beneficial in that they grow well even in dry areas, establishing themselves first and creating dense forests that allow other trees to thrive," said Lee Byung-Doo, head of the Forest Disaster and Environment Research Division at the National Institute of Forest Science.

    Lee also noted, however, that "because pine trees contain resin, when a wildfire occurs the resin acts like fuel, causing the fire to burn more intensely and for a longer duration".

    Furthermore, pine trees retain their leaves throughout winter, making them susceptible to ‘crown fires’—wildfires that spread by igniting the dense canopy of branches and leaves. This has contributed to the rapid and extensive spread of the flames over the past week.

  20. A recap of South Korea's wildfires

    Silhouette of a man against raging wildfires in South Korea's south-east regionEPA

    If you're just joining us, here's the latest: