A combination of an aging society and a reliance on temporary workers meant older people were disproportionately on the frontlines tackling South Korea's devastating wildfires this week - and paid a disproportionate price.

The most destructive wildfires ever to hit South Korea were almost contained, authorities announced Friday, after rain and cooler temperatures helped fire crew put out the blazes that have killed 28 people and razed vast swaths of land since last week.

SEOUL (Reuters) - A forest fire in South Korea's Yeongdeok county, one of a number of wildfires that have engulfed the country's southeastern region, has been contained, the national forest service said on Friday.