SEOUL, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday.
Since last Friday, medium and large wildfires have raged on in 10 regions, mostly in Gyeongsang province, affecting at least 36,009 hectares of woodland, the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters said.
It marked the country's worst-ever wildfire damage, topping the previous high of 23,794 hectares ravaged in 2000.
Of the wounded, eight people suffered serious injuries. Most of the victims were those aged 60 or higher, according to the headquarters.
The number of affected buildings and structures, such as houses, factories and cultural assets, climbed to 325, while more than 37,000 people were displaced.
Firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes, fueled by strong and dry winds.
The country's forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level, while thousands of firefighters, as well as helicopters and fire trucks, were mobilized to combat the wildfires.■