Gyeongnam Province Operating Level 1 Emergency Duty in Preparation for Heavy Rain

Emergency Inspections of Pump Stations, Underpasses, and Riverside Parking Lots

The Gyeongsangnam-do Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has elevated its emergency duty to Level 1 starting from 8 a.m. on the 5th.

Gyeongnam Province had been operating the initial response phase of the Disaster Headquarters since 1 p.m. on the 4th, but raised the duty level after a heavy rain advisory was issued for Hadong, Sancheong, and Namhae counties at 8 a.m. that day.

Currently, 108 personnel including 15 cooperative departments of the province and city and county officials are on emergency duty in preparation for heavy rain.

The province has informed residents of safety measures during heavy rain through four emergency disaster messages, 45 electronic signboards, and nine warning and alert facilities.

They are also conducting urgent inspections and standing by to operate 169 disaster-type drainage pumping stations, as well as checking the operation status of blocking facilities at 27 underpasses and 36 riverside parking lots that are at risk of flooding.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, rain began on the evening of the 4th and by 8 a.m. on the 5th, Sancheong recorded 32 mm, Hadong 29.5 mm, with an average precipitation of 10 mm across the province.

The expected rainfall in the province is forecasted to be 20 to 80 mm until the afternoon of the 6th, with some areas receiving over 100 mm.

The Disaster Headquarters explained that to prevent casualties from heavy rain and ensure safety management, disaster-related agencies including Gyeongsangnam-do, police, fire department, and the 39th Army Division, as well as the province and city/county disaster safety communication networks, are sharing regional situation updates.

They plan to strengthen preemptive measures and monitoring activities to prevent secondary damage such as ash water inflow and landslides caused by heavy rain in recently wildfire-affected areas.

Efforts will also focus on securing water supply measures to avoid inconvenience due to water shortages during the spring farming season.

The province will enhance monitoring of disaster-prone areas due to heavy rain and continuously assess damage situations, preparing and implementing damage prevention measures such as prompt emergency responses in case of damage.

A provincial official stated, “Please be cautious to prevent damage such as farmland flooding, landslides, and retaining wall collapses, and be especially careful of safety accidents in mountainous and valley areas as streams and rivers can suddenly swell.”