South Korea says wildfires worst in its history, death toll rises to 26
Al JazeeraAPR 3
South Korea Wildfires: Death Toll Rises to at Least 28
Above: Embers remain among the debris after most of the buildings were burned to the ground in a wildfire at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong on March 26, 2025. Image copyright: Yasuyoshi Chiba/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
Climate change is fundamentally altering the frequency and intensity of wildfires globally. These fires, occurring at unusual times and with unprecedented force, represent a new normal that requires a complete overhaul of traditional firefighting approaches. Large-scale wildfires will become increasingly common, demanding significantly more resources and trained personnel.
Climate-skeptic narrative
There is too much climate alarmism and unfounded causality when it comes to trying to link wildfires to climate change. As it turns out, the amount of the Earth's surface burned by wildfires has dropped in recent years. Wildfires are often the result of complex land management issues, not a climate crisis.
Narrative C
The unprecedented scale of these wildfires highlights the urgent need for increased firefighting resources and infrastructure. The current reliance on helicopters in mountainous terrain has proven insufficient, and the shortage of equipment due to sanctions-related import restrictions has hampered response capabilities. The situation clearly shows that South Korea must enhance its disaster preparedness systems.