PERSONAL: Rescuers race to save injured and displaced animals after S. Korea's worst wildfires

Record ID: 1986631

  • Title: PERSONAL: Rescuers race to save injured and displaced animals after S. Korea's worst wildfires
  • Date: 29th March 2025
  • Summary: ANDONG, SOUTH KOREA (MARCH 29, 2025) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) VOLUNTEER RESCUER, KIM HA-WON, SAYING: "We cannot solve this issue (alone). This is something that must be addressed at a national level; a system must be established. After all, if we only go out for four or five days, how many animals that suffered because of the fire do you think we can rescue?" POHANG,
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  • Keywords: activist animal rights animal welfare animals burn cat chicken climate change disaster dog dogs korea natural pets south korea vet wildfire
  • Location: ANDONG, POHANG, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: ANDONG, POHANG, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Disaster/Accidents,Wildfires/Forest Fires
  • Reuters ID: LVA003262529032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
    A week after South Korea’s largest forest fire on record, rescuer Kim Ha-won searched through smoke and scorched earth on Saturday (March 29), searching for animals stranded in the chaos.
    The wildfires, which have displaced more than 30,000 residents, left many pets and farm animals trapped as their owners fled.
    Kim, a volunteer of the Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), has been working 17-hour days since Wednesday (March 26), combing through burned-out farms and driving through the countryside roads to locate dogs, cats, and even chickens in need of aid.
    “The atmosphere and the fear that the smoke creates are terrifying,” Kim said.
    “The fact that the animals had to endure everything alone was so painful for us, and it made us feel incredibly guilty and sorry.”
    So far, CARE has rescued 24 animals from the recent blaze, with the majority being dogs suffering from severe burns. Many dogs were found chained to posts, unable to escape the flames.
    Veterinarians treating the animals say the road to recovery will be long and painful, and medical expenses can reach $10,000 per animal for severe burn treatments.
    Kim is calling for stronger animal protection policies and emergency response measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
    "We cannot solve this issue (alone)," Kim said. "This is something that must be addressed at a national level... how many animals that suffered because of the fire do you think we can rescue?"
    (Production: Nicoco Chan, Jisoo Kim, Minwoo Park)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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