Responding at a Level That May Seem Excessive
As more than 400mm of torrential rain fell in a single day, the government activated Level 3 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and launched a full-scale emergency response.
Kim Minjae, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), held a headquarters meeting at the Government Complex Seoul at 3:30 p.m. on July 17 to address the heavy rainfall. He stated, "We are issuing the highest level of flood and storm crisis alert, 'Severe,' and activating Level 3 of the headquarters, thereby raising the government's emergency response posture to its highest level."
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety dispatched field situation managers, composed of officials at the bureau and division head level, across the country to ensure that central and local governments respond jointly to the heavy rain situation. Kim emphasized, "Given the already significant preceding rainfall, we are focusing on faster control measures and preemptive evacuations, responding at a level that may even seem excessive."
Additionally, Kim recommended that the heads of local governments in areas with significant preceding rainfall, such as Seosan, Dangjin, and Taean in South Chungcheong Province, actively consider exercising their authority to issue 'evacuation orders' under Article 40 of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety. He also announced that the central government will actively support the costs associated with evacuating and protecting residents.
Kim stated, "The government will mobilize all available resources to respond to the heavy rainfall situation," and earnestly requested, "We ask the public to refrain from going outside during the torrential rain and to avoid low-lying areas, riversides, and regions at risk of landslides or other damage."
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