South Korea Battles Largest Wildfires on Record, Dozens Dead and Thousands Evacuated

South Korea is battling its largest and deadliest wildfires on record, with more than 35,000 hectares (86,500 acres) of forest burned and at least 27 fatalities reported.  The fires, which began over the weekend in the southeastern regions, have forced approximately 37,000 residents to evacuate. Changing wind patterns and dry conditions have exacerbated the situation, challenging conventional firefighting methods. Authorities attribute the severity of the wildfires to the “harsh reality” of the climate crisis, noting that affected areas have experienced below-average rainfall and unusually strong winds, conditions that have accelerated the spread of the fires and intensified the damage.