Prime Minister Han: "Accelerate Rescue and Search for Missing Persons in Heavy Rain... Mobilize All Resources"

Remarks at the Heavy Rain Response Situation Review Meeting on the 16th

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated on the 16th regarding the casualties caused by the heavy rain, "We will accelerate the search and rescue operations for the missing and complete them swiftly."

At the heavy rain response situation briefing held at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Prime Minister Han said, "As the continuous heavy rain causes ongoing burial accidents and flooding, the damage is increasing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Han particularly emphasized that all personnel and resources from the military, police, fire services, and local governments are being fully mobilized for the rescue operations at the flooded underground passage in Osong, Cheongju. He added, "We will ensure that the rescue operations are completed as quickly as possible."

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) data as of 6 a.m. that day, 7,540 people evacuated from 87 cities and counties across 13 provinces. Among them, 5,933 people in 3,363 households have not yet returned home. The number of evacuees by region is as follows: 2,301 in Chungbuk, 2,166 in Gyeongbuk, 1,981 in Chungnam, 383 in Jeonbuk, and 202 in Gyeongnam.

Prime Minister Han expressed sincere gratitude to those who actively cooperated with the government's and local governments' prior evacuation requests. He also urged related ministries and local governments, "Please provide thorough support to ensure that evacuees do not experience any inconvenience," and added, "I hope you will do your best in recovery efforts so that people can quickly return to their normal lives."

He further emphasized, "I once again urge all citizens to cooperate without fail when authorities issue evacuation requests."

Prime Minister Han stated, "To protect the safety of the people from disasters, it is necessary to go beyond the boundaries of duties among ministries and agencies," and added, "Information related to safety should be shared as widely as possible, and when disasters occur, active cooperation in mobilizing personnel and resources is essential."

He concluded by saying, "I hope all ministries and local governments will take a more proactive and dynamic stance to lead the efforts in overcoming the current disaster."