2200 Flood and Wind Disaster Safety Measures in the Past 3 Years... "Report Unstable Signs and Exterior Walls to 119"

2202 Safety Measures for Facilities and 450 Drainage Supports Processed During 2019-2021 Flood and Wind Disaster Countermeasure Period
Safety Measures Mainly Applied to Street Trees, Signboards, and Building Exteriors

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 5th an analysis of emergency response statistics for flood and wind disaster rescue teams to prevent casualties caused by heavy summer rains and to request citizens' cooperation for safety.

According to the Fire and Disaster Headquarters, from 2019 to 2021 during the flood and wind disaster countermeasure period, there were 2,202 safety measures for facilities reported through 119 calls and 450 drainage support cases. Among the safety measures for facilities, the most frequent target was street trees (717 cases), followed by signboards (451 cases) and building exterior walls (449 cases).

This year, due to last month's heavy rain, there were 402 facility safety measures, and notably, drainage support increased more than threefold to 232 cases compared to 69 cases during last year's flood and wind disaster countermeasure period.

Additionally, over the past three years, a total of 104 people were rescued after being trapped by rapid currents in rivers within Seoul during summer. Although there were no rapid current rescue incidents last year and this year, in 2020, when the longest rainy season on record (54 days) occurred, frequent rapid currents led to the rescue of 90 people.

Isolation accidents caused by rapid currents occurred in Dorimcheon Stream, Bukhansan Valley, and Jeongneungcheon Stream. When heavy rain warnings are issued, it is necessary for citizens to strictly follow safety rules such as avoiding walking paths near rivers and to exercise special caution.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters plans to thoroughly operate the 'Flood and Wind Disaster Emergency Response System' this summer due to concerns about flood and wind disasters caused by sudden heavy rains and typhoons. Key measures include activating an emergency work system during heavy rain warnings, rapid transmission of rescue situations, concentrated deployment of firefighting forces, and emergency support for drainage and water supply.

In addition, the 119 Special Rescue Team's Water Rescue Unit, together with the Citizen Water Rescue Team, will conduct accident prevention activities such as safety patrols along the Han River waterfront and safety management of water play facilities during July and August, and will operate a dispatch system focused on summer water-related casualties.

Choi Tae-young, head of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "We will ensure there are no gaps in the operation of the emergency rescue system to respond to sudden summer heavy rains and typhoons," and added, "We will make every effort to ensure a prompt response in life rescue situations."