Seoul City Implements Summer Wind and Flood Disaster Rescue Measures ... Operates Water Rescue Team at Gwangnaru

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 27th that it will implement emergency life-saving measures to prepare for summer wind and flood disasters until October 31.

First, by June 30, on-site inspections will be conducted on safety conditions in disaster-vulnerable areas such as 12 jjokbangchon (small-room villages) and 753 households of severely disabled people living alone. Hazard factors around residences will be removed in advance, and safety inspections will be carried out on electrical, gas, and residential fire facilities. In addition, to minimize typhoon damage, joint preliminary safety inspections with autonomous districts will be conducted on large construction site barriers, temporary structures, and outdoor advertisements in urban areas.

In particular, to prevent water-related safety accidents during the summer, the 119 Water Rescue Teams (Yeouido, Banpo, Ttukseom, Gwangnaru) will operate a 'Comprehensive Water Safety Experience Program' from July 17 to August 16, which includes experience-based water play, survival swimming, boarding ships, and emergency escape methods.

When a wind and flood disaster crisis alert (interest to caution stage) is issued, preventive activities such as mobile patrols will be strengthened at 469 vulnerable locations including underground passages. Also, during the summer countermeasure period, 100% operational readiness will be maintained for 14 types of wind and flood response equipment, totaling 2,753 items, including rescue boats.

For emergency response at wind and flood disaster sites, an 'Emergency Rescue Control Team' will be activated according to the crisis alert level. The Emergency Rescue Control Team is divided into the standby stage (preliminary alert), emergency level 1 (heavy rain advisory), emergency level 2 (heavy rain warning), and emergency level 3 (flood warning) based on weather warning issuance criteria. Each fire station operates a 119 Safety Shelter for wind and flood disasters, and a cooperative system is in place to disperse transport to 51 emergency medical centers in the city in case of mass casualties caused by landslides and other incidents.

Additionally, to respond quickly to water accidents occurring in the upper Han River summer water areas, the 119 Water Rescue Team will be temporarily operated at Gwangnaru starting June 1. Currently, an underwater weir is installed below Jamsil Bridge, so if a water accident occurs upstream, 119 Water Rescue Team members cannot approach while boarding rescue boats.

A representative of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters said, "The temporary operation of the 119 Water Rescue Team at the Han River Gwangnaru water area has expanded the on-site arrival zone within 5 minutes for the upper Han River area," adding, "Through this, we will carry out rapid and effective life-saving operations in case of water accidents."