Wildfires raging in South Korea have burned some 48,000 hectares of land, as authorities called the blazes the country's worst natural fire disaster with at least 28 people killed and another 37 injured. The newly reported casualties came after five more people were wounded, including one seriously, by the massive fires that have engulfed South Korea's southeastern areas, said the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters early on Friday. Since last Friday, medium and large-size wildfires have swept through 10 regions, mostly in Gyeongsang province, the agency said. It is the country's worst-ever wildfire incident, topping the previous high of 23,794 hectares of land ravaged in 2000. A total 23 pieces of South Korea's national heritage sites have so far been damaged by the fires, along with 3,481 homes, factories, and other facilities. North Gyeongsang province suffered the heaviest losses, accounting for 2,296 of the damaged properties. As of 05:00 on Friday local time, six wildfires were still burning despite light rainfall in some affected areas between Thursday night and Friday morning. Nearly 7,000 personnel, 126 helicopters, and 936 firefighting vehicles have been deployed to tackle the blazes, with the firefighting efforts hindered by strong and dry winds on Friday. The central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters warned that dry and strong wind conditions are expected to persist until the end of April, making large-scale wildfires likely to recur. The wildfires have forced the evacuation of 33,000 residents, with over 8,000 people still unable to return home, according to local authorities. A gymnasium in Andong City of North Gyeongsang has been converted into an emergency shelter, housing around 400 evacuees in 111 tents. Many residents have been displaced for four to five days since the wildfires broke out, with reported shortages of essential medications, including blood pressure medicine, for the elderly. Acting South Korean President Han Duck-soo on Friday issued an emergency directive, instructing the minister of the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters to remain in North Gyeongsang to ensure uninterrupted relief efforts for affected residents until the fires are fully contained. Shotlist: North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - March 28, 2025: 1. Various of ruins, charred houses, trees in wake of wildfires; 2. Various of smoke rising from factory; 3. Helicopter during firefighting operation; 4. Smoke, forest, mountains; 5. Fire engine; 6. Various of smoke, debris, forest; North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - March 27, 2025 7. Various of wildfires raging; Andong City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea - March 27, 2025 8. Tents at temporary shelter; 9. Various of evacuees, staff members. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]