🔥Daegu Wildfire: 1,200 Evacuated as Strong Winds Fuel Rapid Spread

 28일 오후 대구 북구 노곡동 함지산에서 산불이 발생했다

On April 28, a massive wildfire broke out on the slopes of Hamji Mountain in Buk-gu, Daegu, (대구 함지산 산불) rapidly spreading due to strong winds and forcing over 1,200 residents to evacuate.

The fire started at around 2:02 PM in the Nogok-dong (노곡동) area. Despite immediate firefighting efforts, the flames quickly advanced eastward toward Joya-dong (조야동) and Sebyeon-dong (서변동 ), covering a distance of 1–2 kilometers. Strong winds with maximum gusts reaching 15 meters per second (approximately 54 km/h) severely hampered containment efforts. Residents reported that the fire leapt over the mountain ridge in under five minutes, while thick black smoke reduced visibility even hundreds of meters above ground.

Emergency Response Escalated to Level 3

Hamji Mountain in Buk-gu, Daegu in fire

By 3:40 PM, authorities had initially issued a Wildfire Response Level 2, but as conditions worsened, it was escalated to Level 3 — the highest wildfire alert level — by 6:00 PM. The criteria for Level 3 include wind speeds exceeding 7 m/s, expected damage surpassing 100 hectares, and anticipated containment time exceeding 24 hours.

At the peak of operations: 29 firefighting helicopters, 57 firefighting vehicles, and over 700 personnel were mobilized to control the blaze. However, by 5:30 PM, the containment rate stood at only 15%, with approximately 92 hectares affected and a 6.5-kilometer fire line.

The National Fire Agency also issued a National Fire Mobilization Order at 4:05 PM to secure additional resources and prevent damage to residential areas.

Mass Evacuations and Road Closures

Hamji Mountain in Buk-gu, Daegu in fire

Evacuation orders were issued for 899 households, affecting around 1,216 residents in Nogok-dong, Joya-dong, and Sebyeon-dong. Emergency alerts directed residents to seek shelter in nearby schools, such as Paldal Elementary School (팔달초등학교) and Maechon Elementary School (매천초등학교). As of 6:00 PM, about 36 residents had been relocated to these temporary shelters. Fortunately, no injuries or property damage were reported at that time.

To ensure safe evacuation and emergency response:

• Buses were secured to assist elderly and mobility-challenged residents.
• Over 500 police officers were deployed to manage traffic and maintain order.
• Key roads, including the Buk-Daegu Interchange (IC) (북대구나들목) on the Gyeongbu Expressway, as well as Nogok Bridge, Joya Bridge, Mutae Bridge, and Sangyeok Bridge North (노곡교·조야교·무태교·산격대교), were temporarily closed due to heavy smoke and safety concerns.

Heavy smoke covering the Buk-Daegu highway

Daegu Wildfire Extinguished After 23 Hours – Over 260 Hectares Burned

The large wildfire that erupted on Hamji Mountain in Buk-gu, Daegu on the afternoon of April 28 has been fully extinguished after 23 hours of continuous firefighting efforts. The fire, which threatened nearby residential areas and large apartment complexes, was declared extinguished at 12:55 PM on April 29.

According to the Korea Forest Service, the wildfire scorched approximately 260 hectares of forest — the equivalent of about 364 soccer fields — making it one of the most destructive wildfires in Daegu’s recent history. Despite the massive scale of the fire and its close proximity to residential zones, no casualties were reported.

Daeju wildfire was fully extinguished after 23 hours at 12:55 PM on April 29

📚 Learn Korean Through This News

Korean Text:
"28일 대구 함지산 자락에서 발생한 산불이 강풍을 타고 번져 산림당국이 산불 대응 3단계를 발령했다. 소방당국은 민가 피해를 막기 위해 국가소방동원령을 내리는 등 불길 차단에 주력했다."

Key Vocabulary:

• 산불 (san-bul) – wildfire / forest fire
• 강풍 (gang-pung) – strong wind
• 번지다 (beon-ji-da) – to spread (especially fire or rumors)
• 산림당국 (san-rim-dang-guk) – forest authorities
• 대응 단계 (dae-eung dan-gye) – response level / alert stage
• 발령하다 (bal-ryeong-ha-da) – to issue (an order, alert)
• 민가 (min-ga) – private home / civilian house
• 국가소방동원령 (guk-ga-so-bang-dong-won-ryeong) – national fire mobilization order
• 불길 차단 (bul-gil cha-dan) – blocking the flames
• 주력하다 (ju-ryeok-ha-da) – to focus efforts on / concentrate

Grammar Notes:

• ~을 타고 → 강풍을 타고 번지다: "Riding on ~" — used to describe how something spreads quickly via wind, water, etc.
• ~기 위해 → 민가 피해를 막기 위해: "In order to ~" — commonly used to explain the purpose of an action.
• ~등: 내리는 등 indicates that what was mentioned is one of multiple actions taken ("such as issuing the order").

Language Insight:

• 산불 대응 단계 is an official system in Korea: 단계 1 (low alert), 단계 2 (moderate), 단계 3 (highest alert).
• 국가소방동원령 is a serious emergency mobilization order that allows deployment of nationwide firefighting resources.
• 불길 차단 (blocking the flames) often appears alongside words like 방어선 구축 (setting up a defense line) in wildfire news.

Translation:
"On the 28th, a wildfire that broke out on the slopes of Hamji Mountain in Daegu spread rapidly with strong winds, prompting forest authorities to issue a Level 3 wildfire response alert. Fire authorities focused on blocking the flames by issuing a national fire mobilization order to prevent damage to private homes."

References: namuwiki, 한경, yonhap news, kbs news

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