Kang Gijeong Mobilizes Full Response to Heavy Rain Damage... Urges Government for Special Measures

'Heavy Rain Response Situation Inspection Meeting' Presided Over by President on the 18th
On-site Inspection of Affected Areas... Preemptive Evacuation and Swift Recovery

On the morning of the 18th, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong attended the "Heavy Rain Response Situation Inspection Meeting" held in the Disaster Situation Room at City Hall, presided over by President Lee Jae Myung, reporting on the heavy rain response situation and plans. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong conducted an emergency inspection of the damage caused by the extreme heavy rainfall on July 17, taking steps to establish fundamental countermeasures.

On July 18, during the "Heavy Rain Response Situation Inspection Meeting" presided over by President Lee Jae Myung, Mayor Kang provided a detailed report on the severe flood situation in the Gwangju area. The previous day, a record rainfall of 426mm in just one day caused significant damage to the Sinan-dong area in Buk-gu.

Mayor Kang called for a fundamental solution to the recurring flooding issues and emphasized the need for comprehensive disaster countermeasures in the areas surrounding Sinan Bridge. He stressed, "A fundamental approach is necessary to prevent the recurrence of the same damage."

After the meeting, Mayor Kang held an emergency countermeasure meeting with officials from the five autonomous districts, discussing proactive response measures to prevent further damage. At the meeting, he stated, "Due to the heavy rain on the 17th, the ground is already saturated with water, so extra attention must be paid to safety," and emphasized, "Prevention should be the top priority, and special care must be taken in hazardous areas such as retaining walls, steep slopes, sinkholes, and potholes."

As of 3 p.m. on this day, a total of 889 cases of damage had been reported, including 300 cases of road flooding, 263 cases of building flooding, and 49 cases of vehicle flooding. Currently, 75 citizens are staying in temporary shelters.

The Gwangju City government is closely monitoring weather conditions and maintaining a 24-hour emergency system in cooperation with the police, fire department, and public officials. Intensive inspections are being conducted in areas at risk of landslides, retaining walls, and steep slopes, with all efforts focused on preventing secondary damage.

Mayor Kang stated, "The safety of citizens is the top priority," and added, "We will continue to alleviate citizens' concerns through prompt and systematic responses."