Changwon Special City Masan Hoewon District Responds Swiftly to Sanho Stream Pollution Incident

Rapid Restoration of the Stream through All-Department Emergency Response

Changwon Special City in South Gyeongsang Province announced that Masan Hoewon District promptly responded to the Sanho Stream pollution incident, which occurred during the cleaning of a KT telecommunications manhole, and carried out restoration work on the contaminated stream through swift on-site action and close cooperation.

Masan Hoewon District, Rapid Response to Sanho Stream Pollution Incident.

The incident on September 12 happened when a contractor for KT was cleaning the inside of a telecommunications manhole without preliminary dredging of contaminated water, causing manhole sludge (residue) to flow into Sanho Stream. The pollution was discovered during a routine patrol of the stream, and immediate action was taken.

Upon confirming the situation, Masan Hoewon District Office immediately halted the manhole cleaning operation and activated an emergency response system. Relevant departments, business offices, and the fire department collaborated for a rapid on-site response, mobilizing equipment to prevent the spread of contamination and minimize damage. Emergency measures were implemented, including dredging the polluted stream and deploying water-spraying vehicles, as part of a multifaceted effort to restore the stream environment as quickly as possible.

Additionally, samples of the pollutants were promptly collected and sent to the Gyeongnam Institute of Health & Environment for analysis. Based on the results, the district plans to take thorough follow-up actions, including administrative measures and potential claims for compensation in accordance with relevant laws.

Furthermore, KT has been instructed to strengthen work procedures and safety management measures. The district will strictly enforce work management standards and continuously monitor operations to prevent similar incidents in the future, maintaining a management and response system to ensure resident safety and environmental protection.

Je Jongnam, head of Masan Hoewon District Office, stated, "We were able to minimize pollution damage by responding swiftly at the scene as soon as the incident occurred," adding, "We will continue to work closely with relevant agencies to protect the living environment of our residents and do our utmost to make Hoewon District a safer place."