At least three firefighters and a public servant were found dead in South Korea  as more than 20 wildfires raged across the country Saturday.

The firefighters were trying to contain a blaze in Sancheong County that began Friday and had burned 500 hectares (1,200 acres) by Saturday evening.

Sancheong, in South Gyeongsang Province, is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Seoul.

Officials said nearly 1,600 firefighters, 35 helicopters and dozens of vehicles were deployed to fight the blaze. However, due to the mountainous terrain and high winds, only 35% of the fire was contained.

More than 200 residents in 15 villages were told to evacuate.

Acting president urges all-out efforts

South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered relevant agencies to "mobilize all available equipment and personnel to quickly extinguish the fire," his office said.

The country's government declared North and South Gyeongsang provinces and the city of Ulsana to be disaster zones.

Several other areas in central and southern provinces were also hit by wildfires, the Korea Forest Service said.

The agency issued "severe" fire warnings, its highest level, in 12 locations, including North and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan and Daejeon.

The fires also forced the closure of several sections of highway in the southeastern part of the country, including one that connects Ulsan and Busan, South Korea's second largest city.

Edited by: Darko Janjevic