South Korea. Almost 20 people are dead, a helicopter crashed.

The authorities of the city of Andong and other cities and towns in the southeast ordered the residents to evacuate on Tuesday, when firefighters fought with mastery of many, which digested over 17,000 hectares of land and destroyed hundreds of buildings, including a 1300-year-old Buddhist temple.

At least 18 people were killed and 10 people are injured. One person is considered missing. Many of the fatalities were at the age of 60-70. It was reported on Tuesday that four people were killed as a result of fires.

In the Uiseong poviat, a helicopter crashed during the firefighting action – said Yonhap. His 73-year-old pilot died on the spot. The Korean forest service announced that after the disaster all fire -fighting helicopters were grounded. The authorities stated that the cause of the accident is currently examined.

The duties of the president of the country Han Duk SO raised an alarm level on Wednesday due to fires to maximum value and announced “total national readiness”. In his opinion, the fires “caused unprecedented damage” and “develop in a way that exceeds existing forecasting models.”

Fires, which are favored by dry and windy weather, forced the authorities to evacuate almost 23,000 on Tuesday. people, including prisoners, which is an unprecedented event.

Over 6,700 firefighters were sent to fight fires, of which 40 percent to the Uiseong poviat, which is most affected by the element. It was in this region that the person who paid tribute to the burial place of their family was to be started.

It is estimated that so far over 17,000 hectares of forests were destroyed by fire. This is more than during January fires in Los Angeles, the USA, when about 16 thousand were destroyed. hectares. Hundreds of South Korean soldiers were mobilized to extinguish the fire, and South Korea stationed in Korea. American forces provide support for helicopters from bases in the south of the country.

On Tuesday, the authorities reported that firefighters extinguished most forest fires in these areas, but the dry and windy weather allowed for them to spread again.

Almost nine thousand firefighters fought with the element. At night, however, the actions were suspended because the wind strengthened. Over 130 helicopters and hundreds of fire brigade vehicles were sent to fight the element.

Officials in Andong and Uiseong poviats ordered the residents of several villages evacuation to safe places or temporary shelters – including schools and indoor gyms.

The fire in Uiseong destroyed the Buddhist temple built in the 7th century, officials from the monument protection service informed. They managed to evacuate the Stone Statue of Buddha before the fire reached the wooden building of the temple.

The fire also spread to the nearby seaside city of Yeongdeok, where the authorities closed the roads and ordered the evacuation of residents from at least four villages.