Survivors of the Devastating Yeongnam Wildfire Share Their Stories
On April 5, SBS's '뉴스토리' will feature the harrowing accounts of individuals affected by the worst wildfire in Yeongnam's history. The catastrophic blaze, which ignited on March 22 in Uiseong, resulted in 31 fatalities and left 44 injured, scorching over 48,000 hectares of land—an area equivalent to more than 64,000 soccer fields. This unprecedented wildfire, described as a 'monster fire,' spread rapidly, forcing desperate escapes from the flames. Journalists spoke with survivors who faced life-threatening situations during the disaster.
One survivor, Jo Oe-jae, the village head of Pyeongpal 2-ri in Andong, recounted how he managed to evacuate elderly villagers before escaping himself on March 25. In the chaos, he grabbed six bottles of 2-liter water and fled. However, he soon found himself trapped in his car after crashing into a guardrail, isolated for nearly an hour. Thanks to the water he brought, he was able to cool down the car's interior until another vehicle passed by and rescued him. Jo reflected on how terrifying it would have been without those water bottles.
In another account from Seongbo-myeon in Yeongyang, where seven people lost their lives, Choi Dong-cheol described the frantic moments as flames approached. He attempted to escape with his wife and two grandchildren, aged 9 and 11, but their car's tire burst, leaving them stranded. Choi pleaded with passing drivers to take his grandchildren, even if it meant he would stay behind. Fortunately, they all managed to board another vehicle, but that car also broke down. To save his grandchildren, Choi jumped into a nearby stream, dousing them with water while waiting for help.
Another survivor, Jo Kyung-rye, shared her heartbreak over losing her newly purchased home, which she had worked tirelessly for over 60 years to acquire. After living in a makeshift farm shed for seven years due to financial struggles, she finally bought a house last year, only to see it consumed by flames. Jo lamented the loss of her small happiness, which had turned to ashes.
The episode of '뉴스토리' featuring these poignant stories of loss and survival will air on April 5 at 8 AM on SBS.
