▲ The epicenter 21 km west-northwest of Haenam, Jeollanam-do and Gwangju, where a magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck at 6:43 a.m. on the 23rd
Following a magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck the Haenam-gun region of the Jeollanam-do and Gwangju integrated metropolitan city this morning (the 23rd), the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it is raising the earthquake crisis alert level from "Attention" to "Caution."
The earthquake registered a maximum intensity of 4 in Haenam-gun. As of 6:53 a.m. this morning, a total of two felt reports—one in Haenam and one in Sinan—were received, but no reports of damage have been confirmed, authorities said.
However, small-scale tremors have continued in the area, totaling 71 instances, including seven earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher since the 14th.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that while this earthquake was not of a scale to cause direct damage, it decided to elevate the crisis alert level to "Caution" for a preemptive response, given that earthquakes are repeating in the same area.
In addition, the ministry held a response meeting with related organizations including the Korea Meteorological Administration, the National Fire Agency, the Jeollanam-do and Gwangju integrated metropolitan city, and Haenam-gun to check the damage situation and readiness posture.
Kim Kwang-yong, head of the Disaster and Safety Management Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, urged, "Although there has been no damage so far, earthquakes are occurring repeatedly in the same region, so we must maintain a thorough emergency response posture in preparation for additional earthquakes and swiftly and accurately disseminate relevant information to the public."
(Photo provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.