MBC News live reports large fires spreading near Sokcho South Korea. (11:35 am EDT, April 4)
Kangwan province, Goseong county, mountain fire spreading and approaching the city of Sokcho. Some power outages are reported in Sokcho. (Two deaths were reported, one of which later found to have been in error.) The county and national emergency centers are being mobilized. Numerous buildings have been destroyed. The national emergency center reports it is having difficulty collecting information on damages. The fires are active and spreading.
Sokcho is located in the far northeast of South Korea and is slighty north of the 38th parallel, on the East Sea (Sea of Japan) coast.
Schools in the area have been ordered closed for 5 days. The fire has been labelled the Goseong mountain fire. It is currently 12:35 am Korean standard time.
This area is generally regarded as a resort area with its beaches and the beautiful Soraksan National Park not too far away. The city has a population of about 90,000.
MBC graphic showing estimated spread of fire north of Sokcho. Source MBC news now.
Flames show estimated ignition point in mountains. The red area depicts spread of fire north of the Sokcho municipal area (lower right). Port and East Sea/Sea of Japan coast right side.
Current wind speed being reported is to 27 mps, about 60 mph.
Another mountain fire is reported near Gangneung south of Sokcho.
Near Okkae village (which I can't find on the map). Gangneung was the site of the Korean Winter Olympics in 2018. A 32km section of the East Sea highway is closed in both directions due to the fires. They are calling this one the Okkae mountain fire.
Over 3100 people have been evacuated due to the fires near Sokcho. Schools are being used to house evacuees. Over 2500 emergency responders have been mobilized. The fires are spreading rapidly and difficult to control because of dry weather and high winds. Fortunately an early report of a woman's death was mistaken. After daybreak, the wind died down somewhat in most places and allowed firefighters to get a good deal of the fires contained. 21 helicopters were committed to the Goseong mountain fires.
JTBC reports initial fire which approached Sokcho was ignited by electrical sparks from a telephone pole. Wind and extremely dry conditions did the rest. There is a video which is believed to show the ignition event of the initial mountain fire. While the report said the sparks emerged from a "switch" on the pole, a loose wire can be seen blowing in the wind.
Almost 18,000 personnel were mobilized to fight the fires, including thousands of military personnel to supplement first responders. 37 helicopters and 7000 personnel engaged the Okkae mountain fires near Gangneung. Now fire fighters are watching burned out areas and structures carefully to make sure fires do not reemerge.
Mountain fires at a third location, Injae, have been difficult to extinguish because of the steep mountainous terrain.
At this point, over a hundred structures are reported to have been totally destroyed while many others are damaged. Damage information is not complete. Only one death and one serious injury are reported. Over 200 people remained in evacuation shelters, while thousands of others left to survey their properties for damage.
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