Typhoon Approaching ... Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam, Says "All-Out Preparations for Residents' Safety"

"We must do our utmost to ensure there are no casualties by thoroughly preparing in advance before the full-scale typhoon season begins."

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province made this statement while presiding over a summer disaster safety countermeasure inspection meeting held at the provincial government disaster response headquarters situation room on the morning of the 26th.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is presiding over the Summer Disaster Safety Measures Inspection Meeting held at the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters Situation Room in the provincial office. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Office

Governor Park emphasized, "August and September are the peak months for typhoons, so the province and each city and county must come together as one team to thoroughly prepare in advance," and added, "First, we must inspect all underground facilities such as underpasses and underground shopping centers, and simultaneously check the operation of blocking facilities that will be activated when a typhoon occurs."

He continued, "It is most important for public officials to take swift action regarding thorough pre-control of facilities at risk of flooding and the prompt evacuation of residents in vulnerable areas in the event of typhoons and heavy rain," and ordered, "Do your utmost to ensure that we get through this year without any damage from typhoons or heavy rainfall."

During this meeting, safety measures by the province and cities/counties to prepare for water-related accidents or heatwaves ahead of the summer vacation season, as well as the inspection of key management items to minimize casualties from typhoons, were discussed.

Gyeongnam Province has completed inspections of 226 water recreation sites and 26 beaches to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. In addition, the province plans to operate free life jacket rental stations at 33 water recreation sites and designate some areas as mandatory life jacket zones on a trial basis.

Each city and county will assign staff to be responsible for specific management areas, conduct frequent inspections and monitoring during weekends and peak seasons, and check the installation of safety control lines, guidance signs, and lifesaving equipment at water recreation sites.

A summer disaster safety measures inspection meeting is being held at the Situation Room of the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters in Gyeongnam Provincial Government.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

During heatwave advisories, agricultural and construction sites will be instructed to ensure workers take 10-15 minute breaks every hour and to avoid outdoor work during the hottest hours, adjusting working hours accordingly.

Inspections will be carried out at outdoor worksites such as rural areas and logistics complexes during high-risk heat periods, and heatwave evacuation announcements will be broadcast.

The "Happy SMS Notification Service" will be used to send messages to guardians of the elderly, such as children of elderly parents, providing weather updates and encouraging them to check in, thereby safeguarding vulnerable groups such as seniors during heatwaves.

In preparation for localized heavy rain and typhoons, special inspections of 955 disaster-prone facilities and re-surveys of areas at risk of casualties such as mountainous regions, coastal areas, and riverside lowlands were completed in June.

Going forward, Gyeongnam Province plans to swiftly pre-control areas at risk of flooding if warning signs appear and to immediately evacuate residents from areas at risk of casualties in cooperation with the police and fire departments.