(C) The Hans India 

UISEONG, North Gyeongsang — A massive wildfire erupted on Saturday afternoon in Uiseong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, prompting authorities to issue a high-level emergency response and order hundreds of residents to evacuate as strong winds fueled the blaze.

The fire broke out at approximately 3:15 PM on January 10, 2026, near the summit of a hill (elevation 150m) in Bibong-ri, Uiseong-eup. Within 30 minutes, the Korea Forest Service (KFS) upgraded the response to Level 2, a status triggered when a fire is estimated to affect an area between 30 and 100 hectares and is expected to take more than 24 hours to contain.

Rapid Spread Due to "Winter Gales"
As of late Saturday afternoon, the fire was spreading rapidly toward the southeast, driven by northwest winds gusting at speeds of up to 6.4 m/s. The region had been under a strong wind advisory since the morning, and the extremely low humidity (33%) provided tinder-box conditions that accelerated the flames.

"The smoke is already blanketing the downtown area of Uiseong-eup," reported a local official. "The combination of dry winter air and sudden gusts is making initial containment extremely difficult."

Emergency Response and Evacuations
The firefighting authorities have mobilized a massive force to combat the blaze, including:

Aerial Support: 8 firefighting helicopters.
Ground Equipment: 52 pieces of equipment, including 49 specialized fire trucks.
Personnel: 315 personnel, comprising 200 Uiseong-gun officials, 55 specialized forest fire fighters, 50 firefighters, and 10 police officers.
Uiseong-gun authorities issued an immediate evacuation order for residents in the villages of Oro-ri, Palseong-ri, and Bibong-ri. Displaced residents are currently being sheltered at the Uiseong Gymnasium. As of 4:30 PM, no casualties have been reported, but authorities are on high alert as the fire creeps closer to residential areas.

A Recurring Nightmare
This incident comes less than a year after a devastating wildfire hit the same county in the spring of 2025. Local residents expressed distress over the recurring nature of these disasters. The KFS stated that the primary focus remains on preventing the fire from reaching private homes and vital infrastructure.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Investigations will commence once the main flames are under control. Officials are urging people to stay away from the affected areas and to follow all emergency instructions broadcasted via mobile alerts.

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