South Korea: Rains help firefighters battle deadly wildfires

Overnight rains and cooler temperatures helped firefighters fight raging wildfires in southeastern South Korea, which have left 28 people dead and displaced thousands.

The region is grappling with its worst wildfires in recorded history.

On Friday, the national forest service said a forest fire in Yeongdeok county, one of a number of wildfires that have engulfed the country's southeastern region, had been contained.

Authorities said that 95% of the reported fires had been put out in Uiseong county and 85% of those the neighboring Andong city as of early Friday.

"Hazes have been diminished because of the rain last night, so that's favorable for securing visibility. Also, temperatures are now lower than the last few days, so things are very favorable to put out the wildfires," Korea Forest Service Minister Lim Sang-seop said.

Lim said all available resources would be deployed "to try to contain the main fires today."

Climate change exacerbating conditions

The wildfires, which began in Uiseong, spread rapidly, have raged through 45,000 hectares of land, including significant historic sites, and displaced more than 37,000 people.

Authorities deployed over 125 helicopters to aid firefighters who had been struggling against strong winds and dry conditions.

Lee Cheol-woo, the governor of North Gyeongsang Province, called for an overhaul of firefighting strategies.

"We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires," acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting.

Experts warn that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such fires.

Edited by Sean Sinico