South Korean coastal fire kills two, thousands evacuated

Two people died and thousands were evacuated after strong winds fanned a large fire Friday that was burning in the mountainous South Korean province that hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, officials said.

The fire likely started Thursday night from a spark at a transformer near a resort in the town of Goseong, which is in Gangwon province and about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Seoul, and then spread to the nearby mountains, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters.

Choi said nearly 2,400 people in Goseong and almost 1,250 in the town of Sokcho have been evacuated. He said a 60-year-old man and a woman in her 70s died.

Another Gangwon fire official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of office rules, said at least 11 people were being treated for injuries. The official wouldn’t comment on the nature of the injuries or how many were serious. He said the fire spread rapidly through the mountains because of strong winds, burning about 250 hectares (1 square mile) of forest.

Choi said nearly 800 firefighters and almost 100 fire vehicles were being used to fight the fire, but they were having trouble because of the wind and darkness, which prevented the use of helicopters.

Fire brigades from all major surrounding regions, including Seoul, were reportedly ordered to send trucks to help fight the blaze.