South Korean fire crews have been battling some of the worst wildfires in the country’s history, according to the acting president. At least 26 people have died, with strong winds and dry conditions fueling the fires. 

Among the over 200 buildings damaged or destroyed since the fires began on Friday were two ancient Buddhist temples. The government reported that tens of thousands of acres in the southeast have been scorched, with more than 27,000 people evacuated, including about 500 prisoners. 

By Wednesday morning, eight fires were still burning, going up from six on Monday.

In addition to the fatalities, at least 19 people were injured, six of them seriously, according to the Interior Ministry on Wednesday. A local police official reported that many of the victims were in their 60s and 70s. The government also stated that 43,000 acres had been affected.

Acting President Han Duck-soo, who was reinstated after being impeached in December, described the fires as "possibly breaking the record for the worst wildfires ever." His office noted that the fires were spreading more rapidly than initially anticipated.

❗️🇰🇷 - At least 16 people have died in wildfires across South Korea as of March 25, 2025.

A massive fire that started in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, has been spreading for four days, reaching Andong, Cheongsong, Juwangsan National Park, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok.

The… pic.twitter.com/2PfbUdhwu6

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) March 25, 2025

Among those evacuated were residents of the 600-year-old Andong Hahoe folk village, a UNESCO World Heritage site located more than 130 miles southeast of Seoul. Villagers referred to the blaze as “the devil” on social media, expressing frustration at the ongoing struggle to extinguish it.

According to the ministry, flames and smoke damaged 209 buildings across the region, including two ancient temples. Local news videos showed the fire encroaching upon the temples, both over 1,000 years old.

South Korea is experiencing its worst wildfires on record. 24 people are dead and thousands have been evacuated. A number of cultural treasures, particularly Buddhist temples, have been completely destroyed, including Gounsa, a temple built in the 7th century pic.twitter.com/buQZeYLjQZ

— 박주현 (@hermit_hwarang) March 26, 2025

The Korea Heritage Service confirmed on social media Wednesday that some valuable artifacts from one temple, the Gounsa temple, had been removed before the fire reached it. In response, local authorities closed roads and suspended train services, and some areas experienced power outages.

The government reported that firefighters had managed to control nearly 70% of the largest fire in Euiseong County, located west of the folk village. However, their progress was hindered by 56 mph winds that began on Tuesday afternoon, which made it difficult to deploy helicopters and drones.

BREAKING: At least 12 people killed in South Korea wildfires pic.twitter.com/puHqubrCHM

— BNO News (@BNONews) March 25, 2025

The first fire began on Friday afternoon in Sancheong County, approximately 160 miles southeast of the capital. The Interior Ministry stated it was looking into reports suggesting that a farmer's lawn mower may have sparked the blaze.

Separate fires ignited in neighboring counties and cities in the following days, originating from a graveyard and a garbage incinerator. Officials linked the rapid spread of the fires to dry weather conditions.

The Justice Ministry reported that it had transferred approximately 500 inmates in North Gyeongsang Province overnight on Tuesday, according to Yonhap News.