<Anchor>
A large forest fire broke out in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam, during the day
today (8th) and continues to spread with strong winds. The forest authorities have issued a "second phase of forest fires" and deployed 2 firefighting helicopters to fight it.

I'm a journalist.

<Giza>

Instantaneous wind speed Strong winds of 19 meters per second cause flames to spread along the ridge of the mountain.

Faint smoke from the burning trees covered the sky.

At around 12 p.m. today, a forest fire started in the area of Yongju-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam.

The forest authorities have deployed 2 wildfire extinguishing helicopters and 19 extinguishing personnel to fight the fire.

Fortunately, there were no casualties, and evacuation orders were issued to nearby residents to prevent possible damage, and the second stage of response has been issued to quickly extinguish.

The dry weather and strong winds started wildfires in seven locations across the country today.

Four of them have been completed, and the forest fires in Hapcheon, South Jeolla and Buyeo in South Chungcheong are still extinguishing.

The government has designated the period from the 357th of this month to the end of next month as the "Special Measures Period for Forest Fires," and the forest fire warning level has also been upgraded from caution to "alert."

[Deputy Minister Han Chang-sub/Ministry of Public Administration and Security: Please do not burn rice paddies or fields or incinerate garbage in close proximity to forests. Please do not smoke or throw away cigarette butts.]

The government plans to strengthen the crackdown on illegal incineration, which is the main cause of forest fires, and take strict action against violators in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

(Video Interview: Park Young-il, Video Editing: Lee Sang-min, Screen Credit: Forest Service)