Helicopters battle a wildfire on a hill in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, in this photo provided by the Korean army, March 27. Yonhap

Authorities resumed efforts Thursday to limit the spread of wildfires that ravaged multiple locations across the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang this week, with light rainfall forecast over the region.

Forestry officials began deploying helicopters, fire trucks and firefighting personnel at 6:30 a.m. to battle the blaze that began in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Saturday and has rapidly spread due to strong winds.

Some 5 mm of rain was expected to fall in North Gyeongsang Province, according to weather officials.

The wildfires in the province are presumed to have killed 21 people, including four in Andong, home to Hahoe Folk Village — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and eight in Yeongdeok County.

The blaze forced 22,026 people to evacuate and is estimated to have burned more than 30,000 hectares of land in the province.

The wildfires near Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Andong, showed signs of easing overnight.

A forestry official said helicopters were on standby to deploy to the area but noted it would be difficult for deployment in the morning due to weather conditions.

On Wednesday, forestry authorities deployed 87 helicopters, 5,421 personnel and 656 pieces of equipment to battle the wildfires.

During the efforts, a firefighting helicopter crashed in Uiseong County, killing the sole pilot on board. (Yonhap)