First-Ever “Heatwave Emergency Alert” in Seoul Metropolitan Area... Osan City Mobilizes All Resources to Protect Vulnerable Groups

Guidance on Citizen Safety Measures and Strengthened Heatwave Response
Public Urged to Refrain from Outdoor Activities During Peak Hours
City Hall Bus Urgently Dispatched to Apartments Hit by Power Outage
Mayor Cho Yongho: “Citizen Safety Is the Top Priority”

Osan City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Cho Yongho) has launched emergency measures to prevent heat-related illnesses and safety accidents ahead of the first-ever issuance of a heatwave emergency alert in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Heatwave Safety Rules. Provided by Osan City

On August 3, Osan City announced that with a heatwave emergency alert scheduled to go into effect at 11 a.m. on August 4, the city is informing residents of action guidelines and strengthening its heatwave response system, particularly through the Safety Policy Department.

At 4 p.m. on this day, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heatwave emergency alert for the Osan area. This is the first time such an alert has been issued for the Seoul metropolitan region.

The city advised citizens to frequently check weather updates through TV, the internet, and radio during ongoing heatwaves, and to drink water regularly even before feeling thirsty. Beverages with high alcohol or caffeine content should be avoided, as they can promote dehydration.

Outdoor activities and work should be minimized between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures are highest. If outings are unavoidable, it is recommended to rest adequately and avoid strenuous activity.

When using air conditioning, keep the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures within 5 degrees Celsius to prevent air-conditioning sickness. If you experience symptoms that may indicate heat-related illness, such as dizziness, nausea, or headache, stop activities immediately and move to a cool place, such as a heat shelter. If symptoms are severe or persist, seek medical attention without delay.

For farm work or work in greenhouses, it is necessary to manage the work environment by ensuring proper ventilation and spraying water to lower the internal temperature.

Oh Sang city mayor Jo Yongho is visiting Yeongsan Green Mansion in Eungye-dong, where a power outage occurred on the 2nd, to check the on-site response situation. Provided by Osan City

Apartment Power Outage During Heatwave... Osan City Deploys City Hall Bus as Emergency Mobile Cooling Shelter

Meanwhile, on August 2, Osan City urgently deployed a city hall bus equipped with air conditioning to Yeongsan Green Mansion in Eungye-dong, where a power outage occurred during the heatwave, and operated it as a mobile cooling shelter.

Around 12:20 p.m. that day, a transformer malfunction cut off power supply to the apartment, raising concerns about the safety of residents, including elderly people and young children. Although the maximum daytime temperature in Osan exceeded 35 degrees Celsius at the time, there were no designated cooling shelters in the apartment complex.

The city stationed one city hall bus at the site, allowing residents to take refuge in the air-conditioned vehicle while waiting for power restoration. The outage was resolved at approximately 2:52 p.m., about 2 hours and 30 minutes after it began.

Osan Mayor Cho Yongho also visited the site to check on the operation of the shelter and the recovery status, and instructed relevant departments to protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly and minimize inconvenience for residents.

Mayor Cho stated, "We will focus administrative resources on responding to the heatwave, centering on the Safety Policy Department, and pay special attention to vulnerable populations," adding, "Protecting the safety of our citizens will remain the highest priority."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.