‘The fire destroyed everything’published at 04:52 Greenwich Mean Time
Rachel Lee
Reporting from Seoul
A resident of Andong city, who asked not to be named, told BBC Korean that her house was “completely burnt down” within just a few hours.
Her family had lived in the house for more than 30 years.
“The fire destroyed everything – there’s nothing left. You can’t even tell where the house used to be,” she said. “It’s difficult to see the village like this.”
She received an evacuation alert around 17:00 local time on 25 March.
Shortly after, she noticed the fire spreading behind the village, rapidly fuelled by strong winds.
Image source, Get
Wildfire smoke covers a street at Gilan-Myeon in Andong city
Within two hours, residents were banned from entering the area. When they were allowed to return around 10pm, many found their homes destroyed. Fires were still visible in the nearby forest.
The resident, who lives separately from her family due to work, rushed to the scene after receiving a message about the damage.
“When I saw the house, I couldn’t hold back my tears,” she said.
She described the village as being in total disarray. Nearby farmland and storage areas where crops were kept had also been damaged.
Image source, Getty Images
Wildfire quickly tore through Andong city
A day after the fire swept through, residents returned from temporary shelters.
Some were cleaning homes covered in ash, while others relocated to stay with family in other cities. Although the flames had been extinguished, smoke still filled the village and even reached the town center.
“Our family never imagined losing our home like this – nor did our neighbors,” she said. “People are still in shock. For now, we’re just trying to stay calm and figure out what to do next.”
She expressed concern about the lack of clear information from the authorities: “I contacted the city hall and town office, but they said nothing has been decided yet.”
“No one in the village was prepared,” she added. “We had to leave with nothing, and all our belongings are gone. Many of the residents are elderly, so I hope the government can provide temporary shelters where people can stay comfortably.”