SEOUL, South Korea — Two people died and thousands were evacuated after strong winds fanned a large fire Friday burning in a mountainous South Korean province that hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, officials said. Choi said nearly 2,400 people in Goseong and almost 1,250 in the town of Sokcho have been evacuated. He said the fire spread rapidly through the mountains because of strong winds, burning about 250 hectares (1 square mile) of forest. Videos posted to social media in South Korea showed tall flames shooting from large areas of forest, the air filled with embers and debris as cars drove by the raging fire. The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he held an emergency meeting about the fire early Friday and called for officials to deploy all available resources.

Source: Washington Post April 04, 2019 16:38 UTC