The death toll includes the pilot of a firefighting helicopter that crashed in South Korea’s Uiseong county while battling wildfires in the region.

A centuries-old Buddhist temple has been destroyed as South Korea struggles to contain ‘unprecedented’ wildfires ravaging the country’s southeast that have killed at least 18 people and threaten several UNESCO-listed heritage sites.

At least 24 people have been killed as multiple wildfires continue to ravage South Korea's south-east region. Most of the victims are in their 60s and 70s, authorities say, adding that some 26 people are injured - with 12 in critical condition. More than 23,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.