With the national fire mobilization order extended amid severe drought, a large number of firefighting water tankers are being deployed again today (the 14th), marking the third day of emergency water supply support in the Gyeongnam region.

According to the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters, 100 fire water tankers from across the country will be mobilized today to supply water across five cities and counties in the province facing severe agricultural drought stages: Miryang, Geoje, Haman, Uiryeong, and Changnyeong.

These vehicles belong to 12 regional fire headquarters nationwide, including Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon, with 20 units deployed to each of the five cities and counties.

Separately, 59 vehicles from the Gyeongnam and Changwon fire headquarters have been added to provide additional agricultural water supplies, bringing the total number of firefighting water tankers deployed today to 159.

As they did yesterday, the water tankers will focus on supplying agricultural water while also providing water for livestock barns and road dust-suppression sprinkling.

Under the national fire mobilization order, fire water tankers deployed to drought sites in Gyeongnam Province supplied a total of 12,445 tons of water over 1,744 trips during the two days starting from the 12th.

Water tankers belonging to the Gyeongnam and Changwon fire headquarters supported 6,569 tons of water across 793 trips.

Gyeongnam is experiencing deepening agricultural water shortages due to a prolonged drought.

According to the Gyeongnam provincial government, all 18 cities and counties in the province have entered agricultural drought stages.

In addition to the five cities and counties under the severe stage where water tankers are deployed today, nine areas—including Changwon, Jinju, Tongyeong, Gimhae, Yangsan, Goseong, Hadong, Sancheong, and Hapcheon—are under the alert stage, three areas—Sacheon, Namhae, and Geochang—are under the caution stage, and Hamyang is under the attention stage.

As of the 14th, the average reservoir water storage rate across the 18 cities and counties in Gyeongnam stood at 32.2 percent, dropping to 45.6 percent of the historical average (70.6 percent).

Yesterday, the Gyeongnam provincial government and the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters requested the National Fire Agency to extend the support period for firefighting water tankers under the national fire mobilization order.

(Photo: Yonhap News)