Gyeongnam Province Enters Emergency Level 1 for Heavy Rain "Prevent Any Casualties"

Gyeongsangnam-do switched the initial response stage for heavy rain preparedness, which was activated on the morning of the 7th, to Emergency Level 1 at 3 PM.

Gyeongnam Province announced that it is on emergency duty in response to heavy rain advisories issued at 2 PM for 11 cities and counties, and around 3 PM for 2 cities and counties.

The areas under advisory within the province include Changwon, Hadong, Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, Hapcheon, Tongyeong, Sacheon, Geoje, Goseong, Namhae, Yangsan, and Gimhae.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast, the rain that began in the afternoon is expected to bring about 50 to 100 mm of precipitation across various parts of the province until the 8th, with more than 150 mm expected near the southern coast of Gyeongnam and around Jirisan.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

The province explained that the recent rainfall has weakened the ground, increasing the risk of landslides, rockfalls on steep slopes, and concerns about mountain landslide damage.

It added that due to repeated heavy rains, areas outside Gyeongnam, especially near residential zones, have experienced damages such as apartment retaining wall collapses, road slope failures, and rockfalls on road slopes.

The province instructed management agencies and city/counties to conduct pre-inspections of landslide-prone areas, road slopes, and steep slopes where human casualties are a concern, and to promptly maintain these areas to prevent heavy rain damage.

They also urged a re-confirmation of resident evacuation sites and emphasized proactive access control and preemptive evacuation in case of collapse risks due to hazardous weather.

In case of worsening hazardous weather, facility managers and workers are advised to stop safety inspections and other tasks, and if unavoidable, to strictly follow safety rules while wearing safety equipment.

They also encouraged inspection of drainage facilities such as drainage channels, monitoring of slope conditions including groundwater outflow, cleaning of sediment in drainage channels, and installation of waterproof sheets on slopes at risk of soil erosion.