Already Worried About Heatwaves and Extreme Heat
Hana, Shinhan, Gwangju Banks Operate Cooling Shelters
Local Governments Also Activate Cooling Fog and Other Heatwave Measures
As the heatwave continues relentlessly, more people have started visiting bank branches. It is not for loan consultations or deposit and withdrawal services. They are seeking refuge from the heat.
Major commercial banks are operating all their branches as ‘Heatwave Shelters’ to help the elderly and heat-vulnerable groups escape the scorching heat. With this summer’s heat and heavy rains expected to be more severe than usual, the shelters have been opened a month earlier than last year. Hana Bank is operating its heatwave shelters from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until September 30, providing free bottled water to visitors.
Shinhan Financial Group is also operating all its branches nationwide as ‘Heatwave Shelters’ to protect energy-vulnerable groups. Under an agreement with Seoul City, Shinhan Bank has already designated all its branches in Seoul (197 locations) as ‘Climate Companion Shelters.’ Since the 10th, the shelters have been expanded to 591 branches nationwide under Shinhan Financial Group. Anyone can take refuge from the heat at any Shinhan Financial branch designated as a heatwave shelter during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Shinhan Financial is also conducting projects to protect energy-vulnerable groups by replacing old heating and cooling equipment at 237 regional children’s centers nationwide with high-efficiency devices and supporting heating and cooling costs at 363 group homes (child communal living facilities) across the country.
Gwangju Bank will also operate heatwave shelters at all 127 branches in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and the metropolitan area from the 20th until September 30 to ensure a safe and healthy summer.
Local governments are also operating heat reduction facilities such as cooling fog systems and heatwave shelters. As of the end of April, Seoul has installed 3,547 crosswalk shade shelters and a total of 5,080 facilities including smart shelters, cooling fogs, and shade trees. The city plans to install about 390 additional heat reduction facilities, including 322 crosswalk shade shelters and 9 smart shelters, during June and July, and will also repair 486 shade shelters. To mitigate urban heat island effects, 13 cooling roads using underground subway water discharge are in operation. Water cleaning trucks (189 vehicles) are deployed to clean major arterial and general roads covering 1,973 km two to three times a day.
The Climate Companion Shelters, established in partnership with Shinhan Bank, signed a business agreement with CU and GS25 in February this year. This summer, 255 Climate Companion Shelters (58 convenience stores and 197 banks) will operate in Seoul. The city plans to further expand the Climate Companion Shelters through ongoing consultations with companies and institutions. In addition to the Climate Companion Shelters, the city has designated welfare centers, senior centers, government offices, and libraries as heatwave shelters and opened them to the public, with some shelters extending their hours until 9 p.m. during heatwave warnings. Gyeonggi Province has also designated 554 additional indoor heatwave shelters, opening a total of 8,288 locations, and is inspecting the operation status of cooling devices with 3,100 members of autonomous disaster prevention teams.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
