Photo : YONHAP News
Firefighting efforts continued for a second day to contain a wildfire that started in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province on Wednesday.
According to the Korea Forest Service and fire authorities of South Jeolla Province on Thursday, 38 fire trucks and 322 personnel were deployed to contain the blaze on a forested hillside in Gwangyang.
The fire broke out at around 3 p.m. Wednesday after a blaze at a nearby house spread to the surrounding woodland and has been burning for more than 15 hours.
While no casualties have been reported, the fire has scorched about 42 hectares of forest.
Officials said the affected area remains at 42-point-37 hectares, with about 80 percent of the main fire brought under control.
The Forest Service plans to deploy 26 helicopters in stages from 7:30 a.m. with the goal of extinguishing the fire later in the day.
About 100 residents from nearby areas were evacuated to temporary shelters at community centers, while some relocated to other regions.