A wildfire that began on March 22 in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, spread rapidly due to strong winds, reaching the vicinity of Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, by March 25. The fire also extended eastward to Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok. In response, Andong authorities issued an emergency evacuation order for all residents.
By 6:30 a.m. on March 26, the national wildfire death toll had risen to 19 since March 21, with fatalities including two in Andong, three in Cheongsong, four in Yeongyang, and six in Yeongdeok. Earlier, on March 22, four firefighters lost their lives battling a blaze in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province. One person remains missing, and officials warn that casualties could rise as the fire continues to spread.
The wildfire became even more dangerous in the afternoon of March 25 when sudden southerly winds pushed the flames toward Andong, a city of 150,000 residents. Wind speeds reached 25 meters per second. Firefighters worked to protect Hahoe Village by spraying water on its thatched roofs and walls.
So far, the fire in Uiseong has burned 15,185 hectares, area equivalent to more than 21,000 soccer fields, making it the second-largest wildfire in South Korean history.
As the blaze spread, around 1,000 students at Kyungpook National University’s Andong campus were evacuated. The Ministry of Justice also transferred about 3,500 inmates from Gyeongbuk Northern Prison (formerly Cheongsong Prison) and Andong Prison to other facilities.
Train services along the Jungang Line through Uiseong were suspended, and traffic was restricted on the Seosan-Yeongdeok Expressway.
Evacuation orders were issued for Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Pohang as the fire spread. The Korea Forest Service raised the national wildfire crisis alert to its highest level, “Severe.”
This is the first time an evacuation order has been issued for the entire Andong region. The city experienced severe traffic congestion as residents rushed to evacuate.
In Cheongsong County, a woman in her 60s was found dead, her body burned. Police believe she perished while trying to escape. Power outages were reported in Cheongsong-eup, and monks at Daejeonsa Temple in Juwangsan National Park were also ordered to evacuate.
Around 90 residents from Pacheon-myeon, Jinbo-myeon, and Andeok-myeon in Cheongsong County were evacuated.
Inmates from multiple prisons were relocated, including those from the Gyeongbuk prison, which houses violent offenders such as former gang leader Kim Tae-chon, escaped convict Shin Chang-won, and sex offender Cho Doo-soon. The prison currently holds Jeon Joo-hwan, the perpetrator of the Sindang Station murder.
Even coastal areas like Pohang were affected. Pohang authorities warned that districts in the northern part of the city, including towns like Jukjang, Gibuk, and Songra, could suffer direct or indirect damage, urging residents to take precautions and evacuate if necessary. Some sections of National Route 7 toward Yeongdeok were also closed due to the fire.
