As firefighters struggled Thursday to contain the worst forest fires ever recorded in South Korea, ash covered the coastal village of Seok-ri, which was almost completely destroyed by the flames.
Images showed smoke rising from the charred ruins of buildings perched on the cliff.
Multiple wildfires have killed 26 people, forced at least 37 others to flee their homes and destroyed more than 000 structures.
Fanned by strong winds and dry weather, fires have been ravaging the southeastern regions of the country since last Friday.
The government has mobilized thousands of people, dozens of helicopters and other equipment to extinguish the flames, but strong winds are complicating the operation.
Rain was expected later on Thursday.
But the director of the Korea Forest Service said the expected amount – less than 5 millimeters (0,2 inches) – would likely not be enough to extinguish the fires.
The victims include a pilot whose helicopter crashed during a flame-fighting mission Wednesday, as well as four firefighters and other workers trapped by rapidly spreading blazes.
source: AP Newsroom
