South Korea's west sea island of Yeonpyeong, hit by at least 50 artillery shells abruptly fired by North Korea, remained in a state of chaos on Tuesday, with its mountains and civilian homes ablaze in fire, a local government official said, Yonhap reported.
A spokesman for Incheon Metropolitan City, to which Yeonpyeong Island belongs, said at least four island residents were wounded by the North Korean artillery attacks that began early Tuesday afternoon.
"The entire Yeonpyeong Island was blacked out following the North Korean attacks. Mountain fires were also spreading across the island," said spokesman Yoon Kwan-seok in an emergency media briefing.
"At least 50 artillery shells fell on the island, injuring at least four residents and setting civilian houses on fire. All of the island's 1,600-odd residents were evacuated to a shelter."
Yeonpyeong Island, close to the tense inter-Korean maritime border, is located about 80 kilometers northwest of the city of Incheon.
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