Aid Farmers and Families Devastated by Andong Wildfire
Donation protected
Help Our Family and Andong Community Recover from the Andong Wildfire
My name is Woo Seok Ryu and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart after the devastating wildfire that has recently ravaged my home city of Andong, Korea. On March 25th, 2025, Andong was struck by one of the worst wildfires in Korea’s history, which was started in Uiseong. This fire swept through the region at an alarming speed, fueled by dry weather and strong winds, destroying everything in its path.
The fire has claimed lives, homes, and livelihoods, affecting thousands of families. My friends' and families' entire neighborhoods have been burnt down to the ground. My mom lost her best friend, and her husband is in critical condition.
Thousands of acres of forest and farmland burned, and the destruction has been described as catastrophic by local authorities. The region is still reeling from the loss, and the path to recovery is long and uncertain. The majority of people who are affected by this fire are just farmers who rely on the land to survive. These farmers struggle financially in their everyday lives to maintain their crops and land. They are now devastated with their homes, farms, and lands burned to the ground. The storage units, orchards, and farmlands will take years to recover.
Right now, the impact makes the path to recovery feel almost impossible. The emotional toll is immense, but the financial burden is just as overwhelming. Many people are left with no place to turn and no clear way to rebuild what was lost. Everything we worked so hard for is gone in a matter of hours, and it’s difficult to see where to begin.
How You Can Help:
We are humbly asking for your help to rebuild our lives and start over from the ground up. The funds we raise will go directly to providing immediate support for our families and friends' recovery, including securing temporary shelter, replacing lost belongings, rebuilding our business, and starting over from scratch. Specifically, we hope to use the funds for my mom's friend's funeral and her husband's medical bills, and supporting local recovery, especially in the regions of Imdong and Imha.
Your donations will not only help us get back on our feet but will also provide crucial support to others who have been devastated by this tragedy. Many people in our community are in need of assistance, and your kindness will help ensure that we can rebuild our homes, our businesses, and our lives in a way that honors the spirit of resilience we’ve always had.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and generosity during this incredibly difficult time. Your support will make a real difference in our recovery and help us take the first steps toward rebuilding our lives after this tragedy.
With heartfelt thanks,
Ryu Family
Organizer
Soo Kyung Ryu
Organizer
University Place, WA