Worsening Gangneung Drought... From "Disaster Situation" to "National Fire Mobilization Order"

Obong Reservoir Storage Rate Drops to 14.8%
Falls to One-Fifth of the Annual Average
First-Ever Disaster Situation Declared for a Natural Disaster
Fire Trucks Mobilized for Emergency Water Supply

As the drought in Gangneung, Gangwon Province worsens by the day, unprecedented measures such as the declaration of a disaster situation and a national fire mobilization order are being implemented.

According to the daily safety management report from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on September 1, the water storage rate at Obong Reservoir, which supplies about 80% of Gangneung’s domestic water, dropped to 14.8% as of 6 p.m. the previous day. This is just one-fifth of the average annual storage rate of 72.0%.

A national fire mobilization order was issued in response to the drought in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, and fire trucks gathered at Gangbuk Public Stadium. August 31, 2025 Photo by the National Fire Agency

With the storage rate falling below 15%, the Gangneung city government began full-scale water restrictions, including shutting off 75% of water meters. Residents are experiencing inconvenience, collecting water from public springs and doing laundry only once every three days. The swimming pool at Gangneung National Sports Center has been closed since August 14, and the private hotel Shilla Monogram Gangneung has also decided to suspend all water-using facilities, including its swimming pool and sauna.

In response to this record-breaking drought, authorities have mobilized all available resources. On August 30, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety declared a “disaster situation” for a natural disaster for the first time ever. This emergency measure is declared by the Minister when a large-scale disaster is expected to cause severe damage. Once a disaster situation is declared, all available resources, including personnel and equipment, are mobilized, and requests can be made to close kindergartens and schools. For the first time ever, a national fire mobilization order was also issued due to the drought, bringing 50 water tank trucks and one water supply support vehicle to Gangneung. The assembled equipment is transporting water from neighboring cities and counties to the Hongje Water Purification Plant in Gangneung.

Over the past six months, Gangneung has received only 387.7 mm of precipitation, less than half (46%) of the average. With no significant rainfall forecast for Gangneung and the Yeongdong region in the coming days, it appears the drought will not be easily resolved. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, 30 to 80 mm of rain was forecast for the Seoul metropolitan area and inland and mountainous regions of Gangwon Province through September 2, but the expected precipitation for the east coast of Gangwon was less than 5 mm. Furthermore, there is no rain in the forecast for the Yeongdong region through September 11.