A raging forest fire has ripped through the mountains of South Korea's northern coast, forcing thousands to flee from their homes as the country is plunged into a national emergency.
The blaze, which lit up the Goseong province on Thursday night, is thought to be the nation's worst ever fire, killing two people and destroying 135 homes.
And now that firefighters have managed to extinguish most of the flames, the damage to the area's towns and cities is laid bare as alarming photographs emerge from the 2018 Winter Olympics host region.
A mammoth team of 17,700 emergency service personnel manning 60 helicopters and 300 vehicles were deployed by the government to combat the blaze which caused blackouts and signal failures.
The blaze, which lit up the Goseong province (pictured) on Thursday night, is thought to be the nation's worst ever fire, killing two people and destroying 135 homes
A strong gale pushed the fire towards the neighboring seaside city of Sokcho which was also set ablaze (pictured)
Now that firefighters have managed to extinguish most the flames, the damage to the area's towns and cities is laid bare as alarming photographs emerge from the region
But authorities have now confirmed that a 60-year-old man was killed, and a woman in her 70s was fatally struck by a wide-angle mirror on a road that fell because of the strong winds.
Some 4,000 evacuated their homes during the night as flames engulfed apartment blocks and damaged cars.
The fire was ignited by a transformer spark near a resort in Goseong before a gale pushed it towards the neighboring seaside city of Sokcho, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters.
Gangwon is the governing body for the Olympic host city of Pyeongchang and is about 130 miles north east of Seoul.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said fires in Goseong and Sokcho were now fully extinguished and flames in the nearby towns of Gangneung and Inje were 70 to 80 per cent gone.
Videos posted to social media in South Korea showed tall flames rising from large areas of forest, the air filled with embers and debris as cars drove by the raging fire.
The raging forest fire has tore through the mountains of South Korea's northern coast, forcing thousands to flee from their homes as the country in plunged into a national emergency
It was ignited by a transformer spark near a resort in Goseong according to a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters
A mammoth team of 17,700 emergency service personnel manning 60 helicopters and 300 vehicles were deployed by the government to combat the blaze which caused blackouts and signal failures (Sokcho pictured)
Vehicles in Sokcho were on fire due to wildfires on April 5 which reportedly burned and about 525 hectares of forest
The region is close to the border with North Korea. South Korea's Unification Ministry said on Friday it plans to inform North Korea of details about the forest fires.
Some 135 homes and more than 100 other buildings were reportedly burned and about 525 hectares of forest were estimated to have been decimated.
The fire also caused blackouts in Goseong, disruptions in telecommunications and internet services, a temporary shutdown of a major road, and delays in train services from Gangneung to Seoul.
Eleven people were treated for injuries. The government did not comment on the nature of the injuries or how many were serious.
The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he called for all available resources to be deployed.
The fire has not threatened the Olympic sports facilities, including the main venues in Pyeongchang, the alpine centre in Jeongseon, and the skating centres in seaside Gangneung.
Some 4,000 evacuated their homes during the night and as flames engulfed apartment blocks and damaged cars
An official in the situation room of the province briefs the Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on the current state of the devastating fire
The Ministry for the Interior coordinated an operation to deliver relief goods to victims of the fire
After 135 homes were destroyed, some 4,000 people were forced to flee and find alternative shelter, such as those who slept at a youth training centre in Sokcho (pictured)
President Moon Jae-in met with those affected by the blaze in a village in the Goseong province today
The President consoled families whose homes had been destroyed after the government declared a national emergency
President Moon Jae-in's government (middle) deployed a mammoth team of 17,700 emergency service personnel manning 60 helicopters and 300 vehicles to fight the fire
photo link
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/south-korea-declares-national-emergency-as-thousands-flee-from-countrys-worst-ever-forest-fire/
News Photo South Korea declares national emergency as thousands flee from country's 'worst ever forest fire'
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