Multiple wildfires raging across South Korea’s southeastern region have killed at least 16 people.

Deadly wildfires swept through South Korea’s southeastern region on Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and destroying neighborhoods, while hundreds of prisoners were transferred from prisons.

As of 5 a.m. (2100 GMT) on Wednesday, four people had died in the wildfires that started in Uiseong County, with another death linked to another fire in Sancheong County, the Defense Ministry said.

The Uisong fire, which is only 68% contained and is being fanned by strong winds, is showing an “unimaginable” scale and speed, said Lee Byung-do, a forest disaster expert at the National Forestry Institute.

Acting President Han Duk-soo has pledged to deploy firefighting helicopters and ground crews to help contain the blaze due to strong winds and dry weather.

The Defense Ministry said dry conditions were expected to remain in the blaze region on Wednesday.

While wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles in January and September and those in northeastern Japan are still rare, Lee said climate change events are predicted to make wildfires more frequent.

“We have to accept that large-scale fires will increase and prepare more resources and manpower,” he told a local television station.

Four people were injured while trying to escape the fire and their vehicle overturned. Three died One person was injured, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The fire that broke out in Uiseong on Saturday remains uncontained, destroying ancient temples and destroying homes.

The government has designated the affected area as a special disaster zone, and the fire has burned more than 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres).