The number of people who lost their lives in forest fires in South Korea has risen to four. At least 1,500 people were evacuated to temporary shelters, while 3,286 hectares of land turned to ashes.

The toll of forest fires that started in South Gyeongsang Province on Friday and spread to a wide area due to dry weather and winds has worsened.

According to the statement from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, with two more people, including a firefighter, losing their lives, the death toll has risen to four.

It was reported that 6 firefighters, 5 of them severely, were injured and at least 1,500 people were evacuated to temporary shelters.

The fires, which turned a total of 3,286 hectares of land to ashes, damaged 39 structures. It was reported that firefighting efforts continue from the air and the ground in the Sancheong, Uiseong, Ulju, and Gimhae regions. The flames spread rapidly. The forest fires that started in South Gyeongsang Province in South Korea on Friday quickly spread to 20 different areas.

It was initially announced that two firefighters had lost their lives in the fires. The South Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a state of emergency in the South Gyeongsang and North Gyeongsang provinces and Ulsan city.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok had ordered all resources to be mobilized to extinguish the fires.