Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Orders All-Out Response to Protect Vulnerable Citizens Amid Heatwave Advisory

With a heatwave advisory in effect across Seoul, Mayor Oh Se-hoon inspected the city's response measures and issued an emergency directive to relevant departments, stating, "Please prioritize the immediate operation of heat-reduction facilities and the protection of human life."

Mayor Oh urged officials to "strengthen guidance on preventing heat-related illnesses, particularly for vulnerable groups such as elderly residents living alone, residents of jjol-bang (small, low-cost rooms), and the homeless, as well as outdoor workers including construction laborers and delivery workers." He added, "Actively inform citizens of behavioral guidelines during heatwaves, such as staying well-hydrated."

He also ordered, "Ensure that on-site measures, such as operating cooling shelters and shade canopies, as well as deploying water trucks, are implemented without any lapses."

The city activated its comprehensive heatwave response center after the heatwave advisory was issued for all of Seoul at 11:00 a.m. yesterday.

The 25 autonomous districts are also maintaining heatwave response systems, including operating their own situation rooms and stockpiling cooling and emergency relief supplies.

To mitigate the urban heat island effect, the city is operating "cooling fogs" that spray water mist, as well as "cooling roads" equipped with water-spraying facilities.

A total of 199 water-cleaning trucks have been deployed to major arterial roads and general streets, spraying water up to 5 to 8 times a day between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The city is also operating cooling shelters and shade canopies so that citizens can escape the heat near their daily living areas.

For elderly individuals in need of care, the city is making phone calls every other day to check on their well-being, and if they cannot be reached, officials will visit them in person to check their health status.

In areas with high concentrations of homeless individuals, the city has increased the deployment of management personnel and strengthened counseling and patrols to respond quickly to heat-related illnesses.

To protect construction workers who perform much of their work outdoors, the city is recommending the provision of sufficient rest periods and the establishment of rest areas, while also monitoring compliance.

The city is also providing guidance on citizen behavioral tips to prevent heatwave damage through electronic billboards and safety text alerts.

Information on behavioral guidelines, real-time disaster updates, and cooling shelter locations can be found on the Seoul disaster safety portal, "Seoul Safety Nuri" (https://safecity.seoul.go.kr).

(Photo: Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.