The number of fatalities in the forest fires in South Korea has reached four. At least 1,500 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters, while 3,286 hectares of land have turned to ashes.

The toll has worsened in the forest fires that started in South Gyeongsang Province of South Korea on Friday, spreading over a wide area due to dry weather and strong winds.

According to the statement from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, with two more individuals, including a firefighter, losing their lives, the death toll has risen to four.

It was reported that 6 firefighters, 5 of them seriously, were injured, and at least 1,500 people were evacuated to temporary shelters.

The fires that have turned a total of 3,286 hectares of land into ashes and damaged 39 structures are being fought from the air and ground in the Sancheong, Uiseong, Ulju, and Gimhae regions. The flames spread rapidly in South Gyeongsang Province of South Korea on Friday, jumping to 20 different areas.

Initial reports had stated that two firefighters had lost their lives in the fires. The South Korean Ministry of Interior and Safety had announced a “disaster situation” in South Gyeongsang and North Gyeongsang Provinces and Ulsan City.

Temporary President Choi Sang-mok had ordered the mobilization of all resources to extinguish the fires.