Seoul: The military has deployed approximately 5,000 service members and 146 helicopters to assist in combating wildfires that have been raging in South Korea's southeastern regions since last week, the defense ministry announced Tuesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, wildfires have devastated multiple southeastern counties, including Sancheong, since Friday. The fires have burned over 14,000 hectares of woodland and resulted in 15 casualties, including four fatalities.

The defense ministry stated its commitment to supporting the efforts to extinguish the wildfires, marking five consecutive days of helicopter deployment. By Tuesday, the military had also supplied 95,000 gallons of fuel to non-military helicopters engaged in firefighting operations.

The ministry emphasized its dedication to maintaining the military's readiness while protecting citizens and property by actively deploying military resources to respond to national disasters.