A forest fire rages near a town in Sokcho, South Korea, in this photo taken on April 4 2019. Picture: AFP/SOUTH KOREA OUTA giant forest fire swept across swathes of South Korea on Friday, as authorities declared a rare national disaster, deploying 900 fire engines and tens of thousands of personnel to bring it under control.
The blaze broke out late on Thursday alongside a road in the town of Goseong, in the far northeast of the country and only about 45km from the border with the nuclear-armed North. The central government declared a state of national disaster, entitling affected areas to special assistance including goods and equipment, and banning entry to dangerous zones.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more: