At Least 24 Dead as Wildfires Ravage Southern South Korea and Force Thousands to Evacuate

At Least 24 Dead as Wildfires Ravage Southern South Korea and Force Thousands to Evacuate
A Korea Forest Service helicopter dumps fire retardant on a wildfire in Uiseong, South Korea, on March 24, 2025. Yoon Gwan-shick/Yonhap via AP
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SEOUL, South Korea—Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever have ravaged the country’s southern regions, killing 24 people, destroying more than 300 structures and forcing 28,800 residents to evacuate, officials said on March 26.

The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a blaze in the southeastern town of Uiseong, one of the hardest-hit areas. The aircraft had no other crew members. Police said that most of the dead are those in their 60s and 70s.