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| A Korea Forest Service helicopter fights the forest fire near the high-speed railway line being built for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games, Sunday. / Yonhap |
By Lee Han-soo
Firefighters and soldiers are still trying to extinguish a forest fire near the city of Samcheok, with only 30 percent of the blaze brought under control.
Two houses have been destroyed and about 80 hectares burned.
Nearby villagers have been evacuated.
The KFS deployed 22 helicopters and 2,200 ground personnel to fight the blaze and another near Gangneung.
The fire near Gangneung, 170 kilometers east of Seoul, were put out at 10:36 a.m. Sunday, according to the Korea Forest Service.
The fire started in the mountains behind Daegwallyeong Museum in Gangneung, at around 3:27 p.m. Saturday, for reasons not yet clear.
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| Soldiers check for possible spot fires behind a burned down home in Gangneung, Sunday. / Yonhap |
Strong winds fanned the flames, which caused severe damage.
More than 300 residents were evacuated and 30 homes destroyed.
The KFS estimated about 50 hectares of forest ― about 70 times the size of a football field ― were destroyed.
Leading presidential candidates Moon Jae-in, Ahn Chul-soo, Yoo Seung-min and Shim ang-jung have canceled their daily schedules to visit Gangneung, while Hong Joon-pyo sent his wife and aides to help.
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| Presidential candidate Moon Jae-in consoles people who lost their homes, at Sungsan Elementary School, in Gangneung, Sunday. / Yonhap |
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| Presidential candidate Yoo Seung-min consoles a man who lost his home, at Sungsan Elementary School, in Gangneung, Sunday. / Yonhap |
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| Presidential candidate Ahn Chul-soo consoles a woman at Gangneung Senior Welfare Service Center, Sunday. / Yonhap |
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