Daegu wildfire 82% contained as of 8 AM; containment efforts ongoing

The wildfire that broke out on Monday afternoon in Daegu is still burning.

Firefighting efforts have achieved an 82% containment rate as of this morning.

We now turn to our Kim Jung-sil who is joining us live on the line.

Jung-sil, fill us in.

Dami, the wildfire that broke out in the northern Buk-gu district of Daegu continues to spread, despite efforts by firefighters overnight.

The fire, which started yesterday afternoon, has as of this morning already affected over 2.6 million square meters of land.

As of 8 AM this morning, authorities have managed to bring 82% of the fire under control.

Now, take a look at this latest situation map.

The red lines on the map show where the fire is still burning, while the yellow lines indicate where the flames have been extinguished.

As you can see, a significant portion of the fireline has been contained, reflecting progress in the firefighting efforts.

This morning, I spoke with the spokesperson of the Korea Forest Service, Kim Jong-gun, who provided an update on the fire. Take a listen.

"The fire has affected an area of 260 hectares. So far, 9 kilometers of the 11 kilometer fire line have been contained. The air is extremely dry, and strong winds are fueling the fire. People in forested areas or near the mountains must avoid using any open flames whatsoever."

Over 700 personnel were deployed to fight the fire last night, and today, that number has been doubled.

Spokesperson Kim also mentioned that 53 firefighting helicopters and 205 vehicles are being used in the operation.

Now, Dami, you might wonder how the fire started, especially given that the area is close to residential zones and a popular hiking destination.

After a series of devastating wildfires across the country, including the deadly Uiseong wildfire last month that claimed more than 20 lives, the Hamjisan Mountain area was officially designated as a restricted zone to prevent exactly what we're seeing today.

Yet, despite the restrictions, the spokesperson confirmed that the fire started within that very restricted zone.

Authorities are now investigating how this could have happened.

Jung-sil, with the fire now threatening residential areas, how are authorities managing the situation with evacuees? Are there any updates on the safety measures being taken?

Yes, Dami, while no casualties have been reported yet, the situation remains dire due to the fire's proximity to residential areas.

Authorities are urging residents, especially those near Hamjisan Mountain, to stay on high alert.

At least 2,200 residents were evacuated to local elementary schools by Monday afternoon, with an additional 660 evacuating this morning.

In response to the growing threat, three schools near the fire zone have been closed today for safety.

With Daegu still under a dry weather warning and strong winds expected throughout the day, firefighting efforts are set to face further challenges.

That's all I have for this hour, back to you Dami.

Thank you for the update, Jung-sil.