South Korea blames the climate crisis for worst fires on record

South Korean authorities are battling wildfires that have doubled in size in a day in the country's worst natural fire disaster.

- Justin McCurry

At least 27 people have died and hundreds of buildings been destroyed in the eastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the country's disaster chief saying the fires had exposed the "harsh reality" of global heating.

Pointing to ultra-dry conditions and strong winds, Lee Han-kyung, disaster and safety division chief, said: "This wildfire has once again exposed the harsh reality of a climate crisis unlike anything we've experienced before."

The affected areas have had only half the average rainfall this season, while the country has experienced more than double the number of fires this year than last.

More than 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres) have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires, which began in the central Uiseong county, making it the biggest single forest fire in South Korea's history. About 37,000 people have been displaced, the Yonhap news agency said.