Like a strong wind, pine and dry land fueled the flames

Strong wind, thick forest and unusually dry weather is a deadly combination that, according to experts, feeds the largest fires in the history of South Korea.

The inferno in the southeast burned down 35 810 hectares (88,500 hectares) on Thursday – this is about half the size of the New York – 27 people were still killed and tens of thousands were displacing.

Authorities believe that forest fires began by accident from human activity, but the main drivers of devastation are dry land, and strong ruptures that sweep over the internal regions.

The high concentration of pine forest in the Northern Gönsang province, where the fires were burning, also “lubricates” the blues, said the forest catastrophe expert.

“The pine trees contain resin that acts as oil, enhancing fires when igniting. It makes the pitfall burn faster, stronger and longer,” said Lee Bun Du from the National Institute of Science in the Forest in Seoul.

Andung, one of the worst cities, known for its calm pine forests.

While they provide shelter and food for the local wildlife, and sometimes help to break the wind, the pine trees “become problematic during the fires,” Mr. Lee said.

“Because the forests (in South Korea) contain a large number of pine trees, the areas are particularly vulnerable when the fires break out,” he said.

In addition, pine trees retain their needles throughout the winter, making them sensitive to the “fires of the crown” – fires that spread, spilling a dense canopy of branches and leaves. This contributed to the rapid and widespread spread of flames over the last week.

Unlike neighboring countries such as China and North Korea, South Korea has made a profit in the forest cover in recent years.

“Most of the mountains are now filled with fallen leaves and pine … This accumulation has become an important factor in the acceleration of forest fires,” says Beck Min-Ha, a disaster prevention specialist at Kangwon’s National University.

Climate change is also to blame, experts say.

“This forest fire has once again exposed the rigid reality of the climatic crisis, unlike anything we had experienced earlier,” said Lee Khan, the head of the South Korean catastrophe on Thursday.

The ideal environment for these record pouchs has been built over the last few weeks, in which the temperature has risen above 20C (68F), unusually high for spring. The Climate Central Analysis, which explores the climatic science, suggests that these high temperatures have been reached five times more likely with global warming.

Unusual heat dried the earth and air, allowing fires to spread more quickly, especially in combination with strong wind.

Tight trees coating and strong wind in the fire region also create significant problems for firefighters.

On Wednesday, the 73-year-old pilot died when his fire helicopter crashed in the Nun county. At least three other firefighters died in the palaces.

Most of the 26 people who died are 60 and 70, the officials say. South Korea is an aging where every five people are at least 65 years old.

North Gyeongsang is the second largest province that also explains the relatively high number of dead – it is especially difficult to evacuate the elderly at the disaster because they may have problems with mobility or other health risks.

They may also have more difficulties with access or interpretation of evacuation orders.

Three residents of elderly care in Yongdec District died on Wednesday when the car in which they were in the flames. Only one of the four in the vehicle managed to escape on time, reports Korea Joongang Daily.

Acting President Khan Dak-S stated that he was “disturbing” on Thursday that many victims were elderly when he ordered the Interior Minister to move to Northern GongSang to watch the efforts.

Andonga resident evacuated but lost the house, told the BBC, her family and their neighbors were caught by fires.

“Nobody was ready in the village,” said the woman who asked him not to call it.

“We had to leave anything and all our things were gone. Many residents are elderly, so I hope the government can provide temporary shelters where people can stay convenient,” she said.

Historical relics were also burned to the ground – a significant loss in the area is considered one of the cultural centers of South Korea.

These include treasures in two temples, each over 1000 years. One of them, the Hansa Temple, dates from the Dynasty (57 to 935ad).

Additional Rachel Lee Report and Jake Kvon in Seoul