At a Glance

The wildfire is thought to be one of the largest on record in South Korea.The fire killed two people and injured at least 11 others. More than 4,000 residents were evacuated. The fire prompted President Moon Jae-in to declare a national emergency.

A wildfire thought to be one of the largest on record tore through a northern South Korea province Thursday evening, prompting a national emergency and forcing thousands to flee.

Two people are dead and at least 11 injured as a result of the fire that broke out around 7 p.m. local time Thursday in the resort town of Goseong in the northeastern province of Gangwon, about 100 miles northeast of Seoul. Fueled by winds and dry conditions, the fire quickly spread to nearby mountains and other smaller towns.

The blaze that was reportedly sparked by a faulty transformer prompted South Korea President Moon Jae-in to declare a national emergency on Friday.

The fire still burns in some areas but was brought under control Friday afternoon by more than that were called in to help firefighters battle the blaze, the BBC reported. Thirty-two military helicopters and 26 military trucks were also deployed to help fight the fire.

By 4 p.m. Friday afternoon local time, the fire was nearly extinguished and had consumed more than 600 acres.

“Goseong has every spring, but I’ve never seen a fire like this before,” taxi driver Kim Young-joon told The Korea Herald. “The fires in the past only affected mountain areas, but last night’s fire was especially serious as it spread to populated areas. My close friend has lost his entire house and storage unit, and another friend also lost his house and workplace overnight."

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Kim Tae-gi, 69, told the Korea Herald the fire destroyed his home.

“I lost everything. I received a few relief supplies, but I honestly don’t know when I can go back to my house,” Kim said.

More than 4,000 people were evacuated Thursday evening, but most of them had returned to their homes by Friday afternoon local time, the Herald reported.