Yun Ho-jung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, on the 20th instructed relevant agencies and local governments to "maintain emergency work systems and devote all efforts to responding to heavy rain, as strong and heavy rain is forecast through this week while the ground has been weakened by the concentrated downpours since the 17th."
In particular, he called for strengthened surveillance of areas vulnerable to landslides and sites damaged by wildfires, and for preemptive evacuation of residents when danger is anticipated. He also ordered enhanced inspection of storm drains and drainage facilities, along with real-time monitoring of semi-basement housing and underground roadways.
He further stressed the active use of resident evacuation support teams so that vulnerable groups such as the elderly can evacuate quickly, and repeated guidance on public safety measures through disaster text messages and village broadcasts, urging people to refrain from approaching dangerous areas such as riverbanks, landslide-prone zones and low-lying areas.
For areas where damage has already occurred, he instructed that swift emergency recovery be carried out alongside safety measures to prepare for additional rainfall, in order to prevent secondary damage.
Kim Kwang-yong, deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, also held a meeting with relevant agencies to review heavy rain response measures, calling for maintenance of storm drains and drainage channels to prevent flooding, and inspection of resident evacuation systems in landslide-vulnerable areas.
He also requested that local governments take necessary measures such as providing relief supplies so that displaced residents staying in temporary housing facilities experience no inconvenience before returning home, and thoroughly manage the situation so that they can return only after safety has been confirmed.
"As additional damage is feared due to the preceding rainfall, the government will implement measures to prevent casualties as preemptively and actively as possible," Yun said. "We also ask the public to refrain from going out during concentrated downpours, avoid approaching dangerous areas, and remain in safe places until the rain subsides."
