Cheongsong to Record Minus 6 Degrees, Yeongyang and Uiseong Minus 4 Degrees
Administrative Authorities Provide Lightweight Padded Jackets and Other Support
The temperature in the area severely affected by the wildfire in Gyeongbuk is forecasted to drop significantly, raising concerns about the health of evacuees and residents.
On the 28th, volunteers are conducting psychological recovery counseling for disaster victims at a wildfire evacuation center set up in the Andong Gymnasium, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Daegu Meteorological Office on the 29th, the temperature in the wildfire-affected areas is expected to fall below freezing on the morning of the 30th. Cheongsong will record minus 6 degrees Celsius, Uiseong and Yeongyang will each drop to minus 4 degrees, Andong to minus 3 degrees, and Yeongdeok to minus 1 degree.
As temperatures fall below freezing, the suffering of evacuees in shelters is increasing. The evacuees are staying on mats laid on the floor in places such as gymnasiums.
Administrative authorities have prepared lightweight padded jackets to manage the health of the elderly and have supported relocating some to senior centers with good heating. They are also providing daily necessities, medical support, and psychological counseling services for the evacuees.
The wildfire destroyed 3,285 households. About 4,700 residents have not been able to return home. In some areas, electricity, water, and communication services are still cut off, causing ongoing inconvenience for residents.
On the 29th, Gyeongbuk Province established the "Large-scale Wildfire Damage Countermeasures Headquarters," led by Governor Lee Cheol-woo, to support temporary housing facilities for evacuees. Governor Lee said, "We will mobilize administrative power to ensure no negligence or inconvenience in everything from housing to agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and factories, which are the livelihoods of the affected areas," adding, "We will provide one-stop support for improving evacuees' living conditions, health, meals, and daily necessities, including temporary housing."
Earlier, on the 27th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Andong City formed the "Gyeongbuk Joint Support Center" to carry out support tasks such as relief supplies, emergency restoration of communication and gas, and legal and insurance consultations.
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