Foto: Pixabay.com
Brilio.net - An Indonesian citizen has received widespread attention in South Korea after his heroic actions in saving villagers during a forest fire in the Gyeongsangbuk-do area. The man is considered a hero after his courage in helping evacuate the elderly until late at night amidst the flames.
This extraordinary event occurred when a fire burned a forest area in Uiseong-gun and spread to coastal villages in Yeongdeok-gun due to strong winds. One of the villages directly affected was Chuksan-myeon, where Sugianto lived and worked as a foreign sailor.
The massive fire occurred at night, when most of the villagers were asleep. However, Sugianto did not remain silent and instead moved quickly with the village head to ensure that all residents could save themselves.
Sugianto , a 31-year-old man from Indonesia, bravely went house to house that night to warn residents who were not yet aware of the danger. His actions not only woke residents up, but also directly helped the evacuation process to a safer place.
Photo: Pixabay.com
As the fire began to approach, Sugianto and village head Yoo Myeong-shin chose to carry elderly residents to the breakwater 300 meters from the settlement. The village's location on a coastal slope with houses close together made the evacuation process even more challenging, especially for the elderly.
Sugianto's efforts were not without risk, considering that the fire could spread faster at any time. Even so, he still broke through the night with a scream to wake up residents who were still sleeping in the midst of a critical situation.
A grandmother in her 90s who was one of the survivors told how she managed to get out of her house after hearing Sugianto's voice. She said that Sugianto's quick action saved her life and that of other residents.
Before the quote, it was explained that many residents were unaware of the danger because they were fast asleep when the fire started approaching their homes. In that condition, Sugianto's role was really vital because he was the first person to tell them to evacuate immediately.
The woman said, If Sugianto wasnt there, we would all be dead. I fell asleep watching TV, but when I woke up because I heard screams that there was a fire outside, I looked outside and saw Sugianto there. I managed to escape from the house carrying him.
Photo: Pixabay.com
In his testimony, Sugianto himself did not remember how many times he had to go back and forth to save the villagers that night. He only knew that at that time the most important thing was to make sure all the residents, especially the elderly, could get out safely.
It was explained earlier that he ran with the village head, combing the houses and calling the residents in a loud voice. In that dark, tense and dangerous situation, they continued the evacuation with enthusiasm.
Sugianto said, "I don't remember how many times I ran with the village head at that time. I carried the grandmothers who woke up because of my voice."
Sugianto is known to have lived in South Korea for eight years on a work visa and works as a sailor. Although he is from Indonesia, he has been able to communicate fluently with the locals in Korean.
It was previously explained that the relationship between Sugianto and the villagers was so close, even like family. This made him feel responsible when his village was in danger.
Photo: Pixabay.com
He said, I love Korea very much. Especially the villagers who are like family to me. I will return home in three years. I got a call from my wife at home saying she was proud of me. I feel proud that no one was hurt by the forest fire.
Sugianto's heroic actions have been widely praised by the South Korean public and media. His story is seen as a shining example of courage and humanity that transcends nationality.
Although not a Korean citizen, Sugianto managed to show that caring and responsibility know no origin. His bravery that night was proof that anyone can be a hero in an emergency situation.
(brl/far)
