Picture of the Day: Aftermath of Gangneung Wildfire
This photo, taken April 12, 2023, shows the aftermath of a wildfire in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The blaze, which hit the coastal city the previous day amid the combination of strong winds and dry weather, left one person dead and 16 others injured or suffering from smoke inhalation, with 649 people forced to evacuate and 379 hectares of woodland burned down. (Yonhap)
Ah, that’s the Gyeongpo Lake area. I walked through there in 2021 as part of my east-coast walk. Sad to read about the damage and death. Korea has pine groves and pine forests everywhere, and 산불조심 signs are ubiquitous. I can see how an area might go up like a tinderbox, whether via natural causes or because someone wasn’t careful.