"Focus on Preventing Casualties"... South Gyeongsang Gov. Park Wansu Issues Special Instructions for Typhoon Champi Response

As Typhoon No. 30, Champi, brings heavy rain to parts of Gyeongsangnam-do through its indirect effects, Governor Park Wan-su issued special instructions to cities and counties on the 24th, calling for stronger on-site responses to prevent casualties.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast 30-80 mm of rain across the province from October 24 through 26, with more than 100 mm expected in some areas, particularly along the south coast. It also urged people to take extra care to prevent damage from strong winds, rough seas and swell waves.

Park Wansoo, governor of Gyeongsangnam-do. [Photo provided by Gyeongsangnam-do]

On October 23, Governor Park chaired a meeting to assess the typhoon and heavy rain situation and attended a countermeasures meeting of relevant agencies presided over by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. He reviewed response plans and urged cities and counties to take safety measures against the typhoon, heavy rain and strong winds.

In the special instructions issued today, he said, "Ensure a thorough emergency response led by deputy heads of local governments," adding, "Deputy heads of cities and counties must monitor rainfall and on-site conditions themselves, maintain emergency work arrangements and coordination with relevant agencies, and ensure there are no gaps in the response overnight or in the early morning."

He called for residents to be evacuated preemptively from areas at risk of casualties, including landslide-prone areas, steep slopes, low-lying areas along rivers, underground spaces, campsites and valleys, based on signs of danger and accumulated rainfall.

In this regard, he said, "Under the responsibility of heads of eup, myeon and dong offices, support the evacuation of vulnerable people, including older adults and people with disabilities, and confirm whether each person has completed their evacuation."

Governor Park particularly stressed preventing flooding and coastal accidents along the south coast, where heavy rain is forecast.

"Prepare for high tides during the spring tide to coincide with torrential rain along the south coast," he said, directing officials to inspect drainage pump stations, floodgates and emergency power supplies; pre-position drainage equipment; and restrict access to dangerous coastal areas.

He also called for preemptively restricting access to underground roads, riverbed roads, low-water crossings and riverside trails at risk of flooding due to river overflows or increased rainfall. He urged officials to focus on inspecting flood barriers and drainage facilities in underground parking lots and shopping areas, and on preparing users.

He further called for thorough safety measures, including checking the stability of signs and temporary structures vulnerable to strong winds; inspecting and reinforcing drainage channels, temporary embankments and slopes in areas previously damaged by heavy rain and at construction sites; suspending dangerous work; and evacuating workers.

He also urged officials to take extra care to repeatedly share information about dangerous conditions and evacuation locations through emergency text alerts, village broadcasts, phone calls and group chats on social networking services (SNS), and to ensure the safety of on-site response personnel.

He also said that all evacuations and access restrictions should be lifted only after on-site safety has first been confirmed.

Governor Park said, "We must complete resident evacuations and precautionary access restrictions before risks rise overnight, and devote all our resources to preventing casualties."

The provincial government is continuing to monitor weather conditions and whether cities and counties are carrying out the special instructions. It is also providing information about hazards and guidance on how residents should respond through emergency text alerts, village broadcasts and other channels.

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