Seoul: South Korean authorities have issued a Level 2 wildfire response and an evacuation order for residents following a wildfire outbreak in a rural area. The blaze erupted on a hillside in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, around 3:15 p.m., just under a year after the region experienced a significant fire incident last spring.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the cause of this latest fire remains undetermined. Authorities initiated a Level 2 response at 3:41 p.m., mobilizing 10 helicopters, 51 fire suppression vehicles, and 315 firefighters and personnel. However, some helicopters were unable to take off due to strong winds.

The government mandated an evacuation order, directing local residents to relocate to village community centers as the fire rapidly spread amid the strong winds. The humidity at the fire's location was recorded at 33 percent.

A forest official stated, "An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way, and the government will deploy all available resources to prevent casualties."