By UCA News reporter
SOUTH KOREA – A Catholic diocese in South Korea has appealed for prayer and financial support for victims of the nation’s deadliest wildfire that killed at least 27 people, injured many, and caused widespread devastation.
The wildfire started on Mar 22 in Uiseong-gun in the country’s southeastern region. According to reports on Mar 15, it continues to be uncontrollable and is spreading to various counties.
Despite frantic efforts from firefighters and security forces to douse the fire, it has spread to Andong-si, Cheongsong-gun, Yeongdeok-gun, Yeongyang-gun, and other counties, including Uiseong-gun.
Andong Diocese officials said the wildfire has engulfed and destroyed vast areas, making it difficult to estimate the damage accurately.
On Mar 25, the fire spread to the mountain behind Cheongsong Cathedral, forcing the parish priest, nuns, and parishioners to evacuate.
There was no significant damage to Cheongsong Cathedral, but as the fire spread to Cheongsong-eup, it is understood that many parishioners’ houses were damaged.
As the fire spread, parishioners at Yeongyang Parish were also evacuated to the town, but many of their houses were damaged. In Andong City, the wildfire spread to the vicinity of Kyungkuk National University, forcing students to evacuate for a time, and 50 out of 100 households in Gwangyeon-ri village were completely burned down.
A wildfire broke out near Ugok Catholic shrine, raising concerns for a time, but fortunately, no significant damage was done to the shrine.
On the night of March 25, the fire spread to Bonghwa-gun, forcing Catholics in Mulya-myeon to evacuate. It is feared the fire will continue to spread to the nearby Donghae area.
The diocese reported that many houses of Catholics living in the Namseon and Imha areas of Andong Yongsan-dong Parish were completely burned down, and an entire village was destroyed.
The fire devastated houses and orchards in villages under Andong Jeongsan-dong Parish in Cheongsong-gun.
Earlier on March 24, the fire destroyed pine trees and lawns around the cemetery of the Euisong Parish Church in the Andong Diocese.
Besides, two storage facilities and farm sheds operated by Euisong Parish Catholics were destroyed, along with various agricultural machinery and equipment stored there, causing huge losses. The estimated loss from the fire in the parish is about 53.5 million won (US$36,506).
On Mar 24, Andong Diocese issued a pastoral letter seeking prayer and financial support for the disaster victims.
“Many people, including parishioners in the Uiseong area of the diocese, are suffering from the forest fire damage,” the letter said.
“Please pray for them so they do not lose hope,” the letter said.
The diocese said that it is forming an emergency response committee for forest fire damage centered on priests in accordance with the diocesan manual for disaster preparedness, sharing information, and seeking response measures.
The diocese also designated the 5th Sunday of Lent, Apr 6, for those affected by the wildfire.
Media reports citing government sources say the wildfires in South Korea this year are the deadliest on record. The blaze has burned down more than 35,000 hectares. At least 37,000 people have been displaced, and more than 300 structures, including temples, have been destroyed.
“We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires,” acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting, Associated Press reported on Mar 27. – UCA News
