Fire ravages Jeju heritage site

A fire broke out in Hallasan National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, on Jeju Island Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

A hiker found the blaze at an “oreum,” or a parasitic volcanic cone, at around 12 p.m. Around 4,000 firefighters and park rangers battled the fire for around two hours.

They put out the fire at around 2 p.m. Some 16,000 square meters of forest were damaged, according to the fire department.

The fire is thought to have started at a water fountain at Sajaebi Oreum, which is 1,300 meters above sea level.

(wone0102@heraldcorp.com)