The Central Disaster Management Headquarters has begun deploying resources in response to a major wildfire that erupted in Iseong-eup, Gyeongsangbuk-do on March 22, 2025. As dry weather and high temperatures persist across South Korea, the fire poses a significant threat to surrounding areas.
Authorities reported deploying helicopters, personnel, and fire trucks to bring the blaze under control. The morning of March 23, a dry weather advisory was issued for several regions, including Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, as humidity levels remained dangerously low.
According to the Korean Meteorological Administration, effective humidity levels in major areas fell below 35%, prompting an urgent call for vigilance. The areas impacted by the dry weather warning include Daegu, Gyeongsan, Yeongdeok, Pohang, and Gyeongju. Additionally, a broader dry weather alert was announced for a variety of mountainous regions and parts of southern Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do.
Dry weather warnings are announced when effective humidity remains below 35% for over two days. A heightened alert is declared when levels fall below 25% for the same duration. Notably, the National Forest Science Institute highlighted that humidity needed to maintain safe fire conditions is usually above 50%; conditions below this threshold dramatically increase the likelihood of large fires.
Winds reaching approximately 15 meters per second are expected to sweep across most of South Korea, with gusts in mountainous areas potentially reaching over 20 meters per second, akin to the strength of a typhoon, exacerbating the fire risk. The meteorological authorities cautioned, "With increased wind speeds, small sparks could propagate into large fires, and we ask the public to be especially mindful to prevent forest fires and other kinds of blazes."
Further complicating the situation is the anticipated high temperatures. Forecasters expect daytime highs between 14 and 24 degrees Celsius across various regions, with nighttime lows ranging from 7 to 12 degrees Celsius. This translates to unusually warm March conditions, compared to historical averages.
The weather situation continues to raise concerns, particularly as regions like Iseong-eup, where the fire has already destroyed homes, are under specific threat. One residence in the Anpyeong area was completely reduced to ruins due to the fire. These conditions will persist until at least March 26, 2025, according to weather forecasts.
The humidity in certain areas, such as Suncheon in Jeollanam-do and Jeju, has plummeted to alarming levels, just 4% and 9%, respectively, which is among the lowest recorded in March in these regions. In Sancheong County, which is already grappling with a significant fire, effective humidity was reported at just 36.76% as of the evening of March 22. This further exemplifies the extreme dryness across the region, which has been noted to increase fire susceptibility.
Rain is not expected for several days, with the earliest anticipated precipitation hitting from March 27. As noted, local areas will remain exceptionally dry, and the overall weather pattern of less rainfall this year compared to previous years has raised alarms among experts.
Dr. Kwon Chun-geun of the Forest Fire Research Department at the National Forest Science Institute pointed out that human activities primarily instigate most forest fires, responsible for about 99.7% of cases, particularly from activities such as burning refuse and agricultural wastes. He emphasized that the increasing presence of people returning to farming is contributing to rising incidents.
“Forest fires caused by natural factors such as lightning strikes account for only around 0.3%,” Dr. Kwon explained during a meteorological seminar. He added, “Thus, it’s essential for citizens to exercise extreme caution, especially during such a dry period.”
The risk of fire continues as a result of the dry weather patterns, which have resulted in only 77.6mm of rain since the beginning of this year, down significantly compared to the average of 104.5mm for the same period in previous years. With vital rainfall data indicating a reduction of more than 67% in affected provinces, officials remain vigilant to mitigate the threats posed by these wildfires.
As South Koreans brace for the continuation of these conditions, it becomes increasingly clear that community awareness and preventive measures will play a pivotal role in combating the burgeoning threat of wildfires in the region.
