At least 26 people had been killed and 30 others wounded as wildfires were continuing to ravage South Korea's southeastern regions, said the country's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Thursday. As of 05:00 local time Thursday, over 37,000 residents had been evacuated, with nearly 30,000 reported in the hardest-hit areas of Andong City and nearby county of Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province. By Wednesday afternoon, the wildfires had impacted an estimated 37,000 hectares in the Andong City, destroying structures and vehicles. Thick smoke continued to blanket the region, forcing many businesses, including restaurants and markets, to remain closed or operate on reduced hours. Displaced residents expressed their despair and concerns for livelihood. The death toll includes a helicopter pilot who engaged in firefighting operations at mountain areas in Uiseong on Wednesday. As of 05:00 Thursday, the wildfires had scorched over 36,000 hectares of forest, becoming the most severe wildfire disaster in the country's history, beating the 2000 wildfire on the east coast, which burned 23,800 hectares of forest. Shotlist: North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - March 26, 2025: 1. Traffic; 2. Various of closed market; 3. Market stalls; North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - Recent 4. Various of smoke rising from mountain; 5. Various of firefighters putting out fire; North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - March 26, 2025 6. SOUNDBITE (Korean) resident (name not given): "There's nothing left in my home. Such a good house, all destroyed."; 7. SOUNDBITE (Korean) resident (name not given) (ending with shots 8): "Farm tools such as dryers and fertilizer tools were all burned. About 200 pyeong (660 square meters) of my garlic field is burned. How will I make a living?"; North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - Recent 8. Various of burned buildings; 9. Various of tents, displaced residents at relocation site; 10. Various of wildfire. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]