Yoon Ho-jung, Head of CDSCHQ: "Heavy Rain Expected Until Tomorrow; Strengthen Controls in High-Risk Areas"

Yoon Ho-jung, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) and Minister of the Interior and Safety, has instructed relevant agencies to strengthen heavy rain response measures, including pre-emptive controls in high-risk areas and the evacuation of residents, as heavy rain is expected to continue, particularly in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province, until tomorrow (July 10).

Head Yoon held a CDSCHQ meeting at 4:00 p.m. today at the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room, attended by 11 central government ministries and 9 cities and provinces, to review the heavy rain response status of each agency.

The meeting was organized to assess response readiness following heavy rainfall since yesterday in the Chungcheong region and North Jeolla Province, which caused facility damage, and in anticipation of continued heavy rain in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region through tomorrow.

Head Yoon ordered strengthened on-site monitoring and safety inspections, particularly in areas where landslide and flood warnings have been issued, and urged all-out efforts to prevent further damage.

He also directed thorough monitoring of areas prone to flooding, such as riverside walking paths and underground roadways, and instructed that immediate pre-emptive controls be implemented in coordination with the police and other relevant agencies if signs of danger are identified.

Regarding the forecast for heavy rain in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province, he urged real-time monitoring of the Hwanggang Dam discharge and the strengthening of the notification system to ensure the safety of residents living downstream of the Imjin River.

Furthermore, as the risk of landslides has increased, he ordered the activation of a pre-emptive resident evacuation system and instructed that elderly individuals or others who have difficulty evacuating on their own be safely relocated with the assistance of resident evacuation support teams.

"All relevant ministries and local governments must strengthen the pan-government response posture centered on the CDSCHQ to minimize casualties and property damage, and ensure thorough pre-emptive evacuation of residents in high-risk areas," Head Yoon emphasized. "Please repeatedly inspect and maintain rainwater grates and drainage pipes to prevent damage caused by blockages."

He also urged the public, "During periods of strong and heavy rain, please refrain from approaching dangerous areas such as landslide-prone zones, riverbanks, and underground spaces."

According to the CDSCHQ, as of 10:00 a.m. today, a total of 215 cases of facility damage have been reported, including both public and private facilities.

Public facility damage totaled 187 cases, including 69 cases of fallen trees, 46 cases of road flooding, 16 cases of soil erosion, and 14 sinkholes.

Damage to private facilities totaled 28 cases, including 20 cases of flooded homes and 3 cases of damaged homes.

Agricultural damage was recorded at 13.6 hectares.

Of this, 9.4 hectares of cucumber and melon crops in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, were affected.

A total of 423 people from 238 households across 13 cities and counties in 4 cities and provinces have temporarily evacuated, with 388 people from 214 households currently staying in temporary housing facilities.

A missing person incident has also occurred.

According to the North Gyeongsang Provincial Government and the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, a report was received at 10:01 a.m. today that a man in his 80s had fallen into the Namwon Stream in Seongnae-ri, Punggi-eup, Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and was swept away. Fire and police authorities are currently conducting search operations.

(Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.