South Korea’s wildfires turn temple to ash
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Smithsonian Magazine |
The largest wildfires in South Korea’s history have blazed for seven days, leaving dozens dead and destroying or severely damaging several of the country’s most revered historical sites.
Reuters |
About 73% of South Korea's 9,472 seasonal wildfire fighters are over 60-years-old, according to the forest service's latest data, often the only people available to work such schedules.
BBC |
The high concentration of pine forest in North Gyeongsang province, where the fires are burning, is also "oiling" the blaze, said a forest disaster expert.
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But the largest culprit is the wind and dry land. The ideal environment for South Korea's largest ever wildfire has been building for the past few weeks. It's only March, but we've already seen temperatures rise to 20 degrees Celsius, which often dries out the air. And strong gusts are sweeping over the inland regions.
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