Charred, black ruins at South Korea's Gounsa temple stood on Thursday in stark contrast to the kaleidoscope of colours that are a trademark of the country's historic palaces and Buddhist temples. Many of the buildings at the temple complex, first built by monks in the year 681, burned to the ground this week as South Korea's largest wildfire ever swept through forests and towns, killing at least 26 people and destroying or damaging priceless cultural sites. "There was a wind stronger than a typhoon, and flames whipped through the air like a tornado, burning the whole area in an instant," Gounsa temple chief Deungwoon told Reuters.