First Snowfall This Winter... 15.3cm in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi
Seoul City Deploys Over 9,000 Personnel for Snow Removal
Overnight, heavy snowfall centered on the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region prompted the activation of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. Local governments, including Seoul City, are making every effort to clear snow to prevent traffic congestion and accidents during the morning commute.
On the 27th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety activated Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters from 3 a.m. as a heavy snow warning was issued for the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region, raising the heavy snow crisis alert level from 'Interest' to 'Caution.' Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who heads the headquarters, urged, "As this is the first snowfall of the winter and a large amount of snow is falling overnight, thorough snow removal operations will be carried out," adding, "We also ask the public to follow traffic rules such as reducing speed more than usual and to pay attention to pedestrian safety to prevent slip-and-fall accidents."
As of 8 a.m. that day, heavy snow warnings were in effect for the Pyeongchang plain and Hongcheon plain in Gangwon, the northeastern part of Seoul, and Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi Province. As of 5 a.m., the 24-hour accumulated snowfall was highest in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, at 15.3 cm. The northeastern districts of Seoul?Gangbuk (15.0 cm), Seongbuk (14.5 cm), and Dobong (12.0 cm)?followed. Snowfall is expected to continue in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk regions until the next morning.
With heavy snowfall, traffic restrictions have also been imposed. As of 8 a.m., four roads in Seoul city, including the two-way road from Jihamunsamgeori to Bukak Golf Course and Samcheong Tunnel, are closed. Passenger ships on 74 routes with 96 vessels traveling between Mokpo and Hongdo, Pohang and Ulleung, among others, as well as seven national parks, are also closed.
Seoul City began emergency snow removal operations from the previous day. Especially as snowfall continued in the northeastern part, the city raised the emergency snow removal operation to Level 2 from 7 a.m., coordinating with autonomous districts and related agencies. A total of 9,685 personnel and 1,424 pieces of equipment have been deployed to respond to snow removal.
Before the snowfall, the city stocked snow removal agents and equipment in snow removal boxes placed in alleys and steep slopes. They also urged residents to participate in clearing snow in front of their homes and stores.
Kim Seong-bo, Director of Seoul City's Disaster and Safety Office, said, "If temperatures drop while snow is on the ground, icy road sections may form, so we ask citizens to refrain from driving private vehicles as much as possible and to actively use public transportation for safety."
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