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[Weather] Chilly conditions this weekend, dry weather continues

2025/03/28 20:00

It felt much chillier this morning with Seoul plunging to just 3-point-7 degrees Celsius, which was about 10 degrees lower than yesterday morning. Temperatures will plummet further than usual this weekend with Seoul only rising to 8 degrees during the day. The dry weather warning, which was issued for the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been relieved to an advisory, but the dry weather warnings and advisories are still in place in many regions. With strong wind advisories issued as well, please take extra precautions not to cause any fires. Tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju and Gyeongju will start off at 1 degree and Daegu 3 degrees. Highs will move up to around 10 degrees across the country. There is rain or snow forecast with around 5 millimeters in Seoul, eastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province tomorrow afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

7.7 magnitude quake hits Myanmar and Thailand

2025/03/28 20:00

A seven-point-seven magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, also causing damage in neighboring Thailand's capital city of Bangkok. At least 20 people were confirmed killed in Myanmar, and three in Thailand but the death toll is feared to rise into the hundreds. States of emergency have been declared in both countries. The United States Geological Survey said the quake had a shallow depth of about 6 miles. Tremors were also felt in China's Yunnan province.

[Weather] Chilly conditions this weekend, dry weather continues

2025/03/28 17:00

With cold air coming down from the northwest since last night, the temperature in Seoul this morning was just 3-point-7 degrees Celsius, which was about 10 degrees lower than yesterday morning. Temperatures will be lower than usual this weekend with Seoul only rising to 8 degrees during the day. The dry weather warning, which was issued for the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been eased to an advisory, but the dry weather warnings and advisories are still in place in many areas. Also, there are strong wind advisories in place as well, so please take extra precautions to avoid starting any fires. Tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju and Gyeongju will start off at 1 degree and Busan at 4 degrees. Highs will move up to around 10 degrees across the country. There is rain or snow forecast for Seoul, eastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province tomorrow afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

S. Korea’s largest ever wildfire: Massive effort underway to extinguish main blaze

2025/03/28 17:00

Rain has offered some relief to regions ravaged by the latest wildfires by advancing efforts to tame the rampant flames which have been the worst on record for South Korea. Our Park Hyo-been has the latest. Last night's rainfall significantly helped firefighters contain the wildfires in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, bringing a crucial breakthrough in the week-long wildfire battle. "Last night's rain has improved visibility, and the lower temperatures are working in our favor. This gives us the best possible conditions for firefighting." Around 3PM, the Korea Forest Service reported that the main fire in Yeongdeok-gun County, located in the eastern part of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been fully contained. By midday on Friday, the overall containment rate across the region had reached 94 percent, a 32-percentage-point increase from the previous afternoon. Also, the wildfire in Sancheong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, which started last Friday, was 93 percent contained as of midday. No additional casualties have been reported so far on Friday afternoon. As of this morning, the wildfire has killed at least 28 and injured 37 others. The disaster has displaced around 33-thousand residents, with more than 8-thousand still unable to return home. "I saw the flames approaching my house—everything was glowing red. I grabbed what I could and ran When I came back, it was all gone. The fire was still burning." The wildfire marked as the largest in South Korea’s history, affecting approximately 4-hundred 80 square kilometers—nearly 80 percent the size of Seoul's total land area. Nearly 3-thousand-5-hundred structures were damaged. The governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province said the goal is to extinguish the main fire on Friday, and once the main fire is controlled, measures to address the wildfire damage will be considered. Due to the severity of the damage, the government has designated affected areas as Special Disaster Zones. This designation ensures that significant resources will be allocated for relief and recovery efforts. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

[Weather] Fire risk continues with spring cold

2025/03/28 10:00

We did get some rain, but it wasn't nearly enough to ease the dry conditions, especially across the Gyeongsang-do region, where dry weather alerts remain in place. And today, strong winds will be another big concern places like Chungcheongnam-do's west coast, the Jeolla-do region and Jeju are already under strong wind advisories. Meanwhile, we do have some rain falling along the east coast and Jeju this morning, with up to 5 millimeters of rain in store and snow in the mountains of Gangwon-do. It's feeling much colder today; afternoon highs will be 2 to 15 degrees lower this afternoon. Spring cold is here to stay through the weekend. And this afternoon, Seoul gets up to 12 degrees, Daegu and Busan make it to 15 degrees under sunny skies with improved air quality in most parts. After some spotty rain in the capital and Gangwon-do tomorrow, it's back to dry and sunny conditions for the time being. With these dry and windy conditions, the fire risk remains very high, so please be extra cautious with any open flames.

[Weather] Temperatures will drop tomorrow, colder conditions during weekend

2025/03/27 20:00

Rain fell all over the country today, which is something we have been waiting for. But in Gyeongsang-do provinces, where severe wildfires have been burning, less than 5 millimeters of rain fell. It was not enough to put out the fires. With only a small amount of rain, dry weather warnings and advisories remain in many areas. Cold air will rush from the northwest from tonight cooling down the temperatures across the country. The temperatures will drop tomorrow with Seoul plummeting to 3 degrees Celsius in the morning, which will be about 10 degrees lower than today. Daytime temperatures will drop sharply to single digits this weekend. Tomorrow morning, Seoul, Chuncheon, and Gyeongju will start off at 3 degrees. Daegu and Jeju at 8 degrees. Daytime temperatures will move up to 11 degrees in Gwangju, 14 degrees in Daegu. Chilly conditions are expected with Seoul plunging to zero to 1 degree in the morning. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Live from Yeongyang-gun County: At least 27 dead, 32 injured in wildfires burning across S. Korea

2025/03/27 20:00

We begin with the latest on the worst wildfires in the southern regions of the country. For more on the situation on the ground, our reporter Song Yoo-jin joins us now. Yoo-jin, where are you, and what's the latest from there? Jung-min, I'm in Yeongyang-gun County in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, in the southern part of the country and one of the hardest-hit areas, where wildfires have been raging for several days now. The fire originally broke out in this particular region on Saturday in neighboring Uiseong-gun County. Since then, it has rapidly spread to Yeongyang and other areas nearby, as shown on the map. This province, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has the highest death toll with 23 lives lost, making it the deadliest of the multiple wildfires currently burning across the country. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the nationwide total stands at 27 dead and 32 injured as of Thursday 4 PM, up one death and two injuries from the morning, which all came from Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. South Korea is now seeing the highest number of wildfire-related deaths in a single year since records began. The previous high was 26 deaths, back in 1989. In terms of scale, the devastation is also historic. So far, wildfires nationwide have scorched over 3-hundred-60 square kilometers, which is more than half the size of Seoul. I spoke to some local residents about the fire. Take a listen. "I could see the fire up on the mountains three days ago. The flames came here suddenly because the winds have been strong. Today, it's less windy, but when it is windy, it feels like the apocalypse." "It felt like helicopters were dropping fireballs because I could see fires here and then there. So I escaped in my car. I'm 72 and I've been living here since I was eight. I've never seen a fire like this in my lifetime." Yoo-jin, what are you learning about efforts to contain the flames? We hear conditions haven't made that easy. It's been non-stop for thousands of firefighters and rescue personnel working around the clock to control the fires. But it's been an uphill battle, largely due to extremely dry conditions and strong winds. Here in Gyeongsangbuk-do, the average containment rate of the five regions shown earlier on the map stood at 63-percent as of 5 PM, up almost 20-percent from our previous newscast. A few hours ago, Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo newly designated Gyeongsangbuk-do Province's Andong City, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, and Yeongyang-gun counties as special disaster zones, allowing for a coordinated, pan-ministerial response focused on supporting victims and speeding up recovery efforts. There had been hope that rain today might help, but so far, the rainfall has been light and sporadic, and with little rain and strong winds in the forecast tomorrow. At this point, officials and residents are hoping the weather will shift in their favor soon. For tonight, the government will deploy around 3-thousand-7-hundred firefighting personnel to help increase the containment rate. That's all I have for this hour. Back to you, Jung-min. Thank you Yoo-jin. Hope you and your team there stay safe.

[Weather] With only a small amount of rain, dry weather continues

2025/03/27 17:00

Today, all over the country, there was the rain that we have been waiting for. But in Gyeongsang-do provinces, which have seen large wildfires, there was less than 5 millimeters of rain, not enough to put out the fires. With only a small amount of rain, dry weather warnings and advisories remain in many areas. Temperatures have been staying higher than usual until today, but cold air will rush from the northwest from tonight. The temperatures will drop tomorrow with Seoul plummeting to 3 degrees Celsius in the morning, which will be about 10 degrees lower than today. Daytime temperatures will drop to single digits this weekend. Tomorrow morning, Seoul, Chuncheon, and Gyeongju will start off at 3 degrees. Daejeon and Gwangju at 5 degrees. Daytime temperatures will move up to 11 degrees in Gwangju, 15 degrees in Busan. Chilly conditions will be seen during this weekend with Seoul plunging to zero to 1 degree in the morning. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Live from Andong City: Wildfires rage across southern S. Korea, death toll at over 20

2025/03/27 10:00

Wildfires that have pierced through South Korea's southeastern area for the past week are still burning. We head over to one of the hardest hit areas, Andong, with our Lee Eun-hee standing by. Eun-hee, how are things looking as of this morning? Yes, Dami, I'm in Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Firefighting efforts resumed at around 6:30 AM this morning with a total of over 4-thousand-500 personnel and nearly 80 helicopters deployed or set to be deployed to the scene. I'm currently in a village that has been severely impacted by the wildfire, with small fires still burning and destroyed houses nearby. The mountains behind me are barely visible through the smoke. Multiple casualties have been reported in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongsangnam-do Province as people fled the fires, with the latest provisional estimate of at least 24 people dead and at least 26 injured as of Wednesday evening. While many died while evacuating, yesterday, one elderly person was found to have been completely consumed by the fire. The pilot of a firefighting helicopter was also killed in a crash in Uiseong-gun County on the same day. The areas most heavily impacted are Uiseong-gun County and Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where the Korea Forest Service says an estimated 370 square kilometers of the region is on fire or affected by smoke. As of Wednesday, over 23-thousand people are taking shelter in temporary facilities in the province. Also, more than 200 structures, including homes, factories, and cultural heritage sites, have been damaged by the flames. The wildfires started in Uiseong-gun County on Saturday and continue to spread to northeastern cities and counties in the province due to strong winds, including the counties of Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and here in Andong. Eun-hee, this is when we really need that rain to put out the fire And thankfully, some rain is in the forecast? Yes Dami, we're eagerly awaiting the rain forecast from this morning, but the expected amount is small, so it's uncertain whether it will help extinguish the fire. A light rain of around 5mm is expected in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where a dry weather advisory remains in effect. Also, in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, rain of 5 to 20mm is expected, and light rain is forecast to begin around noon in the counties of Sancheong and Hadong, where wildfires have been raging for seven days. Over there, over 1-thousand 5-hundred residents were relocated to shelters as of Wednesday evening. Overall, in the provinces of Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, the overnight fire containment progress is still being calculated and is expected to be updated throughout the day. That's all I have for you, Dami. All right Eun-hee thank you for that report. That was our Lee Eun-hee reporting live from Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

[Weather] Much-needed rain across Korea but not enough

2025/03/27 10:00

We're finally seeing the rain we've been waiting for. Light rain is falling in parts of central regions, along the southern coast and Jeju this morning. It will gradually spread to the rest of the southern provinces in the afternoon. While it's much needed, especially in the areas affected by wildfires in Gyeongsang-do and surrounding regions, unfortunately, the rain isn't as heavy as hoped, less than 5 millimeters in the area, but at least the dryness in the air will be eased with humidity boosted. For now, dry weather alerts continue across the eastern regions, and the wildfire risk alert remains at the highest level nationwide. Adding to the fire risk, intense winds will continue. Temperatures are staying on the warmer side at 20 degrees Celsius in the capital, Daegu at 24 degrees. Dust levels are forecast to rise again in the west of central regions beginning in the afternoon. Today's rain will bring chilly air to the country. Expect a big drop in temperatures through the weekend. Take care and stay safe!

Bolivia declares emergency after floods kill over 50

2025/03/27 10:00

Let's begin in Bolivia, which has seen torrential rains and severe flooding. Give us the updates. Yes. Bolivia is battling against severe flooding as rainfall continues to batter the nation. On Wednesday, Bolivian President Luis Arce announced a national emergency in response to the worst flooding the country has experienced in four decades. Continuous heavy rains have led to widespread flooding across all nine departmental regions, with Beni, Pando, and northern La Paz among the hardest-hit areas. This has resulted in at least 51 deaths, displaced tens of thousands, and affected more than 370,000 families nationwide. The Bolivian government is speeding up emergency funding and aid deliveries. While Bolivia's rainy season typically lasts from November to March, authorities forecast the intense rains to last until mid-April.

[Weather] Dry weather continues, rain all over the country tomorrow

2025/03/26 20:00

The highest level of wildfire crisis warning, "severe" level is in effect all over the country. With dry weather warnings and advisories issued in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the eastern parts of the country, inland areas, and Jeju Island, it is important to take extra precautions not to cause any fires. The rain we have been waiting for to relieve the dryness is finally here. Starting with Jeju Island from late afternoon, it will expand to the south coast tonight and most of the country tomorrow. The amount of rainfall will not be as much as expected. There's about 5 to 30 millimeters forecast for Jeju Island, 5 to 20 millimeters on the west and south coast, and 5 millimeters in some parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where wildfires are still burning. Tomorrow morning will start mild with rain across the country. Highs will move up to 19 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Daejeon, 24 degrees in Daegu and Gyeongju. Temperatures are expected to fall after the rain stops tomorrow. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Live from Uiseong-gun County: Wildfires rage across southern S. Korea as death toll rises to at least 20

2025/03/26 17:00

Forest fires that began last week continue as high winds and dry conditions serve to fan the flames across the southeastern part of the country. That being said Uiseong County appears to be bearing the brunt of the blazes. I have Lee Eun-hee standing by live with details. Eun-hee welcome. So you are at the county? Yes, Sunny, I'm in Uiseong-gun County in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where the biggest wildfire began on Saturday. On the way from Seoul, I could already feel the severity of the wildfires, as even with over an hour left to go, the entire area was hazy from the smoke. To be more specific, I'm here at the temporary Uiseong wildfire command headquarters, which has been relocated to the county office due to the spreading fire. These tents are filled with coffee, food, and water to support evacuees, the teams of firefighters, and volunteers. "I am a university student living in Andong City, and seeing the severe loss of life and damage caused by the wildfire, I felt compelled to volunteer and contribute in any way I can. I sincerely hope the fire is brought under control as soon as possible." The fire is spreading to neighboring cities and counties due to strong winds and these maps show the areas where wildfires are currently raging across the country, including the counties of Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and the neighboring city of Andong. Due to the wind, the wildfires are rapidly spreading to Andong City and Yeongyang-gun County, leading to an evacuation order for nearby residents in a few areas of Yeongyang at around 11:30 AM. As residents are fleeing from the chaos, multiple casualties have been reported with a provisional estimate of at least 20 people dead and around 20 injured. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of 9 AM this morning, the death toll from the wildfires has reached 14 in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and four in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The latest report reveals that an elderly man in his 80s was fully consumed by the fire, with bone fragments found at the scene. Authorities are currently searching for his wife. The areas most heavily affected are Uiseong-gun County and Andong City, where over 370 square kilometers have been affected. As of Wednesday, over 26-thousand people are taking shelter in temporary facilities. Also, more than 200 structures, including homes, factories, and cultural heritage sites, have been damaged by the flames. And Eun-hee how have authorities been responding to these frightening flames? According to the government, over 1-hundred helicopters are actively involved in the operation, but at around noon today, one firefighting helicopter crashed here at the scene of Uiseong-gun County, with the pilot confirmed dead, Additionally, over 4-thousand-5-hundred personnel are actively involved in the operation, including more than 1-thousand military personnel and 3-thousand firefighters. "The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, along with relevant ministries, local governments, public institutions, volunteers, and village leaders on the front lines, is fully mobilizing all efforts to combat the wildfire and protect residential areas." As the fire continues to spread, there is heightened focus on safeguarding cultural heritage sites, particularly in Andong and the Hahoe Village. Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its well-preserved traditional architecture and cultural significance. A fire, which started several kilometers from the village, carried smoke towards the area, and by noon today, the smoke had thickened, heightening tension around the heritage site. According to reports, some tourists had visited the area until Tuesday, but on Wednesday, all access was completely restricted. This follows the complete destruction of the Gounsa Temple in Uiseong by the fire the day before. That's all I have for now, Sunny. All right Eun-hee thank you for that report. That was our Lee Eun-hee reporting live from Uiseong-gun Country Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

[Weather] Rain across the country tomorrow, temperatures will drop after the rain

2025/03/26 17:00

Currently, the highest level of wildfire crisis warning, "severe" level is in effect across the country. With dry weather warnings mainly in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and dry weather advisories in the eastern parts of the country, inland areas, and Jeju Island, please take extra precautions not to start any fires. We have been waiting for the rain in this dry weather. Starting with Jeju Island from late afternoon, it will expand to the south coast tonight and most of the country tomorrow. However, the amount of rain will not be as much as expected. There's just 5 to 30 millimeters forecast for Jeju Island, 5 to 20 millimeters on the west and south coast, and 5 millimeters in some parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where wildfires are still burning. Tomorrow morning will start mild with rain in most parts of the country. Highs will move up to 19 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Daejeon, 18 degrees in Gwangju and Busan. Temperatures are expected to drop after the rain stops tomorrow. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Wildfire alert level reaches its highest nationwide

2025/03/26 10:00

Wildfire risks remain a major concern today. The wildfire alert level has now been raised to "severe" nationwide. Dry weather warnings remain in place in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and advisories cover many of the eastern regions. Given today's gusty winds, even a tiny spark could quickly turn into a major fire, so we all need to stay extra cautious. At the same time, as the yellow dust particles linger in central parts of Korea, a dust advisory remains in place for the capital region and Chungcheongnam-do Province. Thankfully, conditions should gradually clear up by the afternoon. Afternoon highs could jump 10 to 15 degrees higher than the chilly morning, reaching above 20 degrees in most parts with mostly sunny skies. Much-anticipated rain is in the forecast from Jeju and the south coast from late tonight, spreading nationwide overnight. The amount won't be much with western regions and Jeju seeing more precipitation. Rain will bring a chill to the country on Friday, and it will stay cooler through early next week.

Large wildfires continue in southeastern S. Korea; prime minister declares 'all hands on deck'

2025/03/25 20:00

Fire fighters are working around the clock to tame the rampant flames across Korea's southeastern area fueled by high winds and dry conditions. Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. The large wildfires in the southeastern region of South Korea are still not under control. The damage is most severe in Uiseong-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The entire region has been affected by the wildfires since Saturday. By Tuesday, more than 30 villages were covered in smoke, and over 1,500 people had been displaced. More than 150 buildings, including houses, factories, and warehouses, have been destroyed. An area of more than 126 square kilometers, roughly the size of 17,600 football fields, has been directly or indirectly affected. This marks the third-biggest wildfire in the country's history. Due to strong winds and dry weather, 60 percent of the fire Uiseong-gun has been contained so far. The Korea Forest Service has stated that the dense smoke is making firefighting efforts more difficult. A firefighter in his 40s was transported to hospital on Monday, marking the first hospitalization of emergency services personnel during the wildfire containment efforts in the region. Currently the wildfire has spread to nearby Andong city, and over 1,000 residents in the surrounding areas have been evacuated. There are wildfires in multiple areas, including Uiseong, Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Ulju-gun County in Ulsan city. Over 87 square kilometers of forest, which is over 12,000 football fields, have been burned. On Tuesday, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that in total there have been 15 casualties, including four deaths. Including Uiseong-gun and Andong city, more than 4,200 people have been evacuated. The country's Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has called for all hands on deck. "The government has declared Sancheong and three other regions as special disaster areas, promising full national support for recovery. All firefighting helicopters and ground personnel will be mobilized for rapid containment of the wildfires." Authorities have deployed 110 helicopters and over 6,700 personnel. The wildfire in Sancheong-gun is 80 percent contained, and in Ulju, over 98 percent contained. The Korea Meteorological Administration has reported that strong winds will continue in southeastern areas, including Uiseong-gun, while rain is forecast nationwide on Thursday. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Dry weather continues with gusty winds, ultra-fine dust stays

2025/03/25 20:00

The atmosphere is drying up. While the dry weather warnings remain in the eastern regions, there is also a "severe" wildfire crisis warning level in the southern areas. Please take extra precautions. With gusty winds blowing, it is very important not to cause any fires. The concentration of ultra-fine dust stayed at "bad" levels all over the country today. It will get a bit better in some places tomorrow but the Seoul metropolitan area, the Chungcheong-do provinces, Busan and Ulsan will stay at "bad" levels. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will start off at 6 degrees Celsius, and Busan 11 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 21 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 25 degrees in Daejeon and Gwangju. On Wednesday, it will start to rain from the south, and spread across the country on Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Large wildfires continue in southeastern S. Korea; prime minister declares 'all hands on deck'

2025/03/25 17:00

Also on the national front. Fire fighters are working around the clock to tame the rampant flames across Korea's southeastern area fueled by high winds and dry conditions. Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. The large wildfires in the southeastern region of South Korea are still not under control. The damage is most severe in Uiseong-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The entire region has been affected by the wildfires since Saturday. By Tuesday, more than 30 villages were covered in smoke, and over 1,500 people had been displaced. More than 150 buildings, including houses, factories, and warehouses, have been destroyed. An area of more than 126 square kilometers, roughly the size of 17,600 football fields, has been directly or indirectly affected. This marks the third-biggest wildfire in the country's history. Due to strong winds and dry weather, 60 percent of the fire Uiseong-gun has been contained so far. The Korea Forest Service has stated that the dense smoke is making firefighting efforts more difficult. A firefighter in his 40s was transported to hospital on Monday, marking the first hospitalization of emergency services personnel during the wildfire containment efforts in the region. Currently the wildfire has spread to nearby Andong city, and over 1,000 residents in the surrounding areas have been evacuated. There are wildfires in multiple areas, including Uiseong, Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Ulju-gun County in Ulsan city. Over 87 square kilometers of forest, which is over 12,000 football fields, have been burned. On Tuesday, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that in total there have been 15 casualties, including four deaths. Including Uiseong-gun and Andong city, more than 4,200 people have been evacuated. The country's Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has called for all hands on deck. "The government has declared Sancheong and three other regions as special disaster areas, promising full national support for recovery. All firefighting helicopters and ground personnel will be mobilized for rapid containment of the wildfires." Authorities have deployed 110 helicopters and over 6,700 personnel. The wildfire in Sancheong-gun is 80 percent contained, and in Ulju, over 98 percent contained. The Korea Meteorological Administration has reported that strong winds will continue in southeastern areas, including Uiseong-gun, while rain is forecast nationwide on Thursday. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Dry conditions continue, ultra-fine dust stays tomorrow

2025/03/25 17:00

Dry weather continues every day. In particular, the atmosphere in the east is extremely dry, and a dry weather warning is currently in effect for the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and the inland areas of the Gyeongsang-do provinces. Recently, wildfires have broken out one after another, and wildfire crisis warnings are being issued across the country. Please take extra precautions. The concentration of ultra-fine dust stayed at "bad" levels across the country today. It will get a bit better in some places tomorrow but the Seoul metropolitan area, the Chungcheong-do provinces, Busan and Ulsan will remain at "bad" levels. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will start off at 6 degrees Celsius, and Daegu at 8 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 21 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 23 degrees in Gyeongju. There is rain forecast across the country this Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Firefighters continue battling wildfires

2025/03/25 10:00

Wildfires in Sancheong County and Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do Province have been burning for five and four days respectively on Tuesday, but firefighters have not yet fully extinguished the blazes. Some 15 hundred personnel have been mobilized to battle the Sancheong County wildfire, with over 85 percent of the fire extinguished. Forestry authorities are deploying 32 helicopters starting Tuesday morning to begin efforts to fight the fire from the air. Over in Gimhae, forestry authorities plan to increase the deployment of available firefighting resources, including helicopters, with the goal of extinguishing the main fire today. At least four people have died in the fires. Five people have been seriously injured, while 6 others received minor injuries.