Prime Minister Han Sung-sook issued urgent directives to relevant agencies as heavy downpours are forecast, centered around the southern coastal regions starting tonight (August 15).

Prime Minister Han instructed, "Given that rainfall is concentrated during vulnerable nighttime hours amid the holiday period, make every effort to ensure preemptive inspections, controls, and evacuations."

She further emphasized, "Ensure thorough precautions for the evacuation of visitors and residents at camping and caravan sites, and carry out rigorous prior inspections and monitoring of landslide-prone areas, underpasses, and low-lying homes."

Prime Minister Han also urged officials to promptly guide evacuations by utilizing available resources such as village loudspeakers and sirens, and to pay close attention to safety management in coastal areas and adjacent low-lying zones, taking rising sea levels into consideration.

She added, "Ensure that relevant agencies maintain a strict emergency duty posture and information sharing, and remain mindful of the safety of frontline response personnel."

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heavy rain of over 250 mm is expected in the southern coastal areas and around Mount Jiri during the Liberation Day holiday, with up to 150 mm in other parts of the Gyeongnam region, and up to 100 mm in Jeju, excluding mountainous areas.

(Photo: Yonhap News)