The fires have spanned more than 35,000 hectares and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.
  • Firefighters are racing to save people and ancient artefacts from the largest wildfires in South Korea’s history, which have killed at least 27 people so far
  • Tens of thousands have also been displaced in the blazes, which started in the south-east on 21 March
  • Most of those killed were in their 60s and 70s, local officials say
  • Eyewitnesses described apocalyptic scenes as fires engulfed their homes, with one man telling the BBC the damage in his city has been “devastating”
  • Authorities believe human activities started multiple fires, but strong winds and dry land allowed them to spread quickly
  • The winds also make it dangerous for helicopters to operate - one crashed while fighting the fires on Tuesday
  • The fires have gutted a 1,300-year-old temple in Uiseong city and are threatening other cultural sites