A centuries-old Buddhist temple has been destroyed as South Korea struggles to contain ‘unprecedented’ wildfires ravaging the country’s southeast that have killed at least 18 people and threaten several UNESCO-listed heritage sites.

Uprecedented wildfires ripping through South Korea’s southern regions have destroyed large parts of an ancient Buddhist temple, ruining two of its three state-designated “treasures.”

Wildfires continued to spread across South Korea's southeastern region on Tuesday, tearing through local landmarks, including ancient Buddhist temples.Standing among the charred remains of one such temple,