[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will pour 12.6 billion KRW into expanding heatwave mitigation facilities such as shade installations this year.
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 4th that it plans to operate a situation management task force (TF) according to the heatwave response stages and activate the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters by September 30 to prevent damage.
Key measures include increasing the number of community-based heatwave mitigation facilities such as shade shelters and shade trees from 3,610 locations last year to 5,615 locations this year, an increase of 2,005 locations.
The province will invest a total budget of 12.6 billion KRW, including 6.45 billion KRW from the provincial government and 6.15 billion KRW from city and county governments.
The number of cooling shelters will also increase from 7,031 locations last year to 7,407 locations this year, an increase of 376 locations.
To protect vulnerable groups during heatwaves, customized health management and protection activities such as welfare calls and health checks will be conducted for about 50,000 vulnerable elderly people when heatwave warnings are issued.
In addition, 50,000 copies of a guidebook containing heatwave action guidelines will be produced and distributed, and heatwave response promotion activities will be carried out using provincial and city/county websites, G-Bus, social networking services (SNS), and text message electronic billboards.
Furthermore, as part of infectious disease prevention measures due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, temporary closures of cooling shelters are recommended when community infection spreads, and the use of facilities where viruses can easily spread, such as cooling fog (artificial mist spraying facilities) and ground fountains, is discouraged.
A provincial official said, "This year, the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are expected to increase compared to previous years. We will significantly expand heatwave mitigation facilities and strengthen the response system to reduce inconvenience and damage to residents."
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