South Korea redeployed firefighting helicopters after a fatal crash caused a temporary grounding on Wednesday as authorities struggle to contain wildfires that have ravaged the country’s southeast, killing at least 19 people and destroying a centuries-old Buddhist temple.

At least 18 people have been killed and 19 injured as South Korea's wildfires continue to ravage the country's southeast, according to the latest numbers from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

At least 18 people are dead after six days of fires fueled by dry weather conditions. Among the scorched buildings: two 1,000-year-old Buddhist temples.