News Agency Yonhap reported on Friday that the death toll from wildfires in southeastern North Korea increased to at least 28 and 37 injured.
According to Yonhap, the fires have been raging about 48,000 hectares of forest that have been burning since the fires were raging, more than twice the amount burned in 2000, the worst in South Korea’s history.
Firefighters work in better conditions on Friday, with higher visibility and cooler temperatures after overnight rains, the agency said.
So far, about 38,000 residents have to escape.
The fire began in Sancheen County, about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, causing huge damage, including several historical sites.
Yonhap reported that Goun Temple, built in 681, was destroyed, adding that the national treasures that had been stored in the ancient temples before their destruction had been relocated. The historic Hahoe Village was announced as a World Heritage Site in 2010, and the village was also threatened by flames.
Officials said the fire was fueled by dry winds and prolonged droughts.
Wildfires in South Korea are not uncommon during the dry period. In recent years, both average temperature and extreme weather events in the country have increased, greatly increasing the risk and severity of fires.
Experts believe that the increase in wildfires is a sign of the ongoing impact of climate change.
