Changwon Citizens Thank Changwon Special City Officials ... Perfect Preemptive Response to Heavy Rain

Changwon Special City Activates Disaster Response Headquarters and Sets Work Level
Repeated Inspections of Areas of Concern for Ongoing Extreme Heavy Rain

Citizens Say, "No Casualties Thanks to Employees' Efforts On-site Despite Record Rainfall"

In Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, a torrential downpour that is said to occur only once in 200 years struck, but there were no casualties reported. The proactive response of Changwon city officials received great praise from citizens.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast, Mayor Hong Nam-pyo convened a situation assessment meeting, activated the disaster response headquarters, and decided on the work stage. Over 500mm of heavy rain fell between the 21st and 22nd.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, attending a situation assessment meeting related to extreme heavy rain.

In response, Changwon was the only city in Gyeongnam to issue an emergency mobilization order for all employees at 1 a.m. on the 21st. Through monitoring activities, repeated inspections were carried out on areas at risk of casualties, such as landslide-prone areas, steep slopes, reservoirs, river entrances, riverside parking lots, sloped solar power facilities, Saewolgyo bridges, and workplaces.

Additionally, repeated inspections were conducted for facility managers responsible for areas at risk of damage from strong winds, high waves, and swells, such as outdoor advertisements, tower cranes, construction sites, street lights and traffic signals, roadside trees, and agricultural orchards.

As a preemptive measure, 20 underpasses in areas at risk of casualties were controlled and later reopened, along with 15 riverside walking trails, one riverside parking lot, three valley entrances, and eight Saewolgyo bridges. At 1:40 a.m. on the 21st, an evacuation order was issued, relocating 33 out of 242 residents in landslide-prone areas to village halls and other safe locations.

Subsequently, residents in flood-prone areas of Naedongcheon in Palyong-dong, Uichang-gu, and Jigaecheon in Buk-myeon, Uichang-gu, were advised to evacuate.

Hong Nampyo inspecting the site damaged by extreme heavy rain in Changwon Special City.

Even as the heavy rain continued, Mayor Hong Nam-pyo personally inspected the sites and urged public officials to do their utmost to ensure the safety of citizens.

Mayor Hong stated, "Although some damage occurred due to this unprecedented record-breaking rainfall, we will do our utmost to restore damages and inspect disaster prevention facilities so that citizens' inconvenience is minimized through swift on-site response. I also ask citizens to take every precaution for their safety."

Citizens also expressed their gratitude for the city officials who visited their homes and urged them to evacuate quickly for their safety.

Kim Yumi (female, 47), a citizen, said, "I was so worried about the heavy rain and couldn't sleep at night, but seeing the officials doing their best everywhere made me feel grateful."

Thanks to the proactive and active response of the officials, it was confirmed that there were no casualties among citizens. Although there was some damage, such as soil overflowing onto roads and cracks appearing in some walls due to the heavy rain, there was no further damage thanks to Changwon City's emergency response measures.