The biggest forest fire on record in South Korea has displaced thousands, charred large areas and killed at least 26 people in the south-eastern province of North Gyeongsang, authorities say. The affected areas have had only half the average rainfall this season, while the country has experienced more than double the number of fires this year than last. Woo-Kyun Lee, a climatic environment professor, said a rapid increase in temperatures, prolonged dryness and stronger winds had exacerbated the fires. 'For this reason, wildfires in our country are bound to become more frequent, spread on a larger scale,' he said

Source: The Guardian March 27, 2025 18:10 UTC