South Korea redeployed firefighting helicopters after a fatal crash caused a temporary grounding on Wednesday, as authorities struggle to contain “unprecedented” deadly wildfires that have ravaged the country’s southeast, destroying a centuries-old Buddhist temple.

The helicopter crashed while working to contain a fast-spreading fire in Uiseong County, located more than 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of the capital Seoul, according to local fire officials. The pilot, the only person onboard, was confirmed dead.

Thick, orange flames powered by dry air and strong winds have ripped through southern regions in South Korea, fueling the country’s worst-ever wildfires in recent years. At least 27 people have been killed, and more than 30,000 forced to flee their homes, according to the Associated Press. The blaze has also destroyed over 300 structures, with other historical sites under threa

Among those casualties were four civil servants dispatched to fight the wildfire, authorities said. Many of the civilians killed were aged 60 or older, including some who struggled to escape quickly or others who did not want to evacuate.

The 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong County, a major Buddhist landmark, was among the dozens of buildings that have burned to the ground with its ceremonial bell the only piece appearing somewhat intact, according to photos from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

People survey the damage at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, South Korea, on Wednesday, after raging wildfires destroyed more than 300 structures.

Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap/AP

Some of the artifacts that were in the historic site, including the seated stone Buddha designated a treasure by the state, were spared from the fire as they were relocated to other temples ahead of the approaching blazes, it added.