South Korea Faces Its Deadliest Wildfire After Ancestral Ritual Ignites Massive Blaze

A 56-year-old man accidentally ignited South Korea's largest wildfire while performing an ancestral rite at a grave in Uiseong County. The fire resulted in the deaths of 30 people, destroyed 48,000 hectares of forest, and damaged 4,000 structures, including the historic Gounsa temple. The disaster revealed South Korea's vulnerability to climate-related catastrophes and regional disparities. Rural areas, which are largely inhabited by the elderly and have low populations, faced significant challenges during evacuation efforts, underscoring the urgent need for reforms in disaster preparedness.