‘Carrying Children, Transporting Elders’ Jeonnam Fire Department Works Hard to Respond to Flood Damage

The Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Hong Young-geun) is making an all-out effort to minimize local flood damage.

According to the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters on the 16th, as the heavy rain warning continues, the headquarters is reinforcing situation personnel and on-site response forces at each frontline fire station, strengthening emergency rescue response posture through patrols and removal of risk factors.

The fire chief and the fire chiefs of 22 cities and counties are stationed at their posts, paying close attention to rapid response, and have deployed firefighting personnel to an extent that might be considered excessive.

Since the 14th, emergency duty for heavy rain preparedness has been activated, deploying about 4,000 personnel and approximately 480 pieces of equipment, securing safety measures at 163 out of 186 sites, rescuing 11 people, and evacuating 86 people.

At around 3 p.m. on the day, a report was received of a landslide from a hillside due to ground weakening at an elderly welfare facility in Dolsan-eup, Yeosu-si, Jeonnam, leading to the evacuation of all 54 patients and implementation of safety measures.

Also, at around 4 p.m., after receiving a report from Hyeonsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, that a younger sibling said "save me" and then the call was disconnected, responders searched nearby rice fields and rescued a resident who had fallen into a 2-meter-deep drainage ditch.

The previous day, a report was received of flooding at Sanjeong Market in Songji-myeon, Haenam, and 16 personnel were mobilized to minimize flood damage; after a retaining wall collapse in Jukgyo-dong, Mokpo-si, 4 people were secured and handed over to the authorities.

Additionally, at a site in Honam-dong, Mokpo-si, where building collapse was feared on the 14th, 17 people were evacuated, and thorough safety management at the site continues to this hour.

Chief Hong Young-geun said, “With the mindset that ‘it’s not over even when it seems over,’ all staff are maintaining vigilance and doing their best for the safety of residents,” adding, “We ask all residents to carefully monitor weather conditions and pay special attention to facility management and safety regarding traffic accidents on rainy roads.”