SEOUL: (Bernama-Yonhap) South Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday (Nov 20) ordered local authorities to ensure the swift and safe evacuation of residents after a wildfire broke out in Inje, Gangwon Province, Yonhap News Agency reported.
After being briefed on the situation, Kim instructed municipalities to mobilise all necessary administrative resources to support the evacuation of residents in affected areas.
He also ordered the Korea Forest Service to work with the provincial government, the fire agency and the defence ministry to secure the required response equipment, focus on early containment and prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby regions.
Kim called on local authorities to ensure that evacuation shelters and emergency relief supplies are sufficiently prepared to minimise inconvenience for evacuees.
The wildfire broke out at around 5.29 pm on a hillside in Inje, 132 kilometres east of Seoul, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Authorities have built firebreaks along the ridge where the wildfire is spreading in an effort to halt its advance. With nightfall, helicopter deployment to the area has become impossible.
No casualties have been reported so far.
The risk of the fire spreading to nearby houses or military bases appears to be low. - Bernama-Yonhap
