Samsung Group announced on March 26 that it will donate 3 billion KRW (approximately $2.2 million) to support recovery efforts and assist residents affected by the recent massive wildfires in the Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do regions.
The donation will be made through the Korean Red Cross and involves the participation of eight Samsung affiliates: Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung C&T Corporation.
The funds will be used for recovery operations in the government-designated special disaster zones, including Sancheong and Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province, and Ulju in Ulsan.
In addition to the donation, Samsung will also provide 1,000 disaster relief kits containing daily necessities and 600 residential tents for those displaced and currently residing in temporary shelters. Samsung has consistently contributed to disaster relief efforts, both domestically and internationally. In 2023, the company donated 3 billion won through the Korean Red Cross for wildfires in South Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, and South Jeolla Provinces, as well as in Gangwon Province. In 2022, Samsung contributed the same amount for wildfires in Uljin and Gangwon, and for heavy rainfall damage in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon. At that time, the company also provided emergency relief kits and free inspection services for flood-damaged home appliances.
The recent wildfires, which began on March 22, have claimed 24 lives as of 4 p.m. on March 26, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. Another 26 people were injured, and around 27,000 residents were evacuated from their homes.
Fatalities were reported in multiple regions, with seven deaths in Yeongdeok and six in Yeongyang, both in North Gyeongsang. Three people each died in Cheongsong and Andong. A firefighting helicopter crashed in Uiseong while attempting to extinguish flames, killing the pilot.
On March 22, four members of a firefighting crew died while battling blazes in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang.
Among the 26 injured, 12 suffered serious injuries while 14 sustained minor wounds. Many of the deceased were senior citizens who were unable to escape the flames in time.
Authorities continue to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the accidents. In Andong, an 80-year-old man was found dead in a home completely destroyed by fire. A 70-year-old woman was also discovered deceased in the same area after a family member went to rescue her. Police suspect smoke inhalation as the cause of death.
Meanwhile, in Cheongsong, a woman in her 60s was found dead with burn injuries near her car, believed to have died while trying to evacuate.
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