Dobong-gu Operates Heatwave Shelters and Night Safety Lodgings to Prepare for Heatwaves

Operation of 9 Heat Relief Shelters Including Dobonggyo Underbridge and Pavilions in Choansan Park

Dobong-gu Darakwon Sports Park Outdoor Heat Relief Shelter

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dobong-gu (Mayor Dong-jin Lee) is operating indoor and outdoor heatwave shelters and nighttime heatwave safety accommodations to help vulnerable groups stay safe during the intense summer heat.

In preparation for the summer heatwave, the district is flexibly operating a total of 26 heatwave shelters according to COVID-19 response levels, including ▲9 outdoor heatwave shelters ▲4 nighttime heatwave safety accommodations ▲1 welfare center ▲12 community service centers.

Especially this year, considering the COVID-19 prevention guideline of social distancing in daily life, 9 outdoor heatwave shelters have been set up under bridges and in park pavilions.

The outdoor heatwave shelter locations include ▲Changgol Soccer Field (352-3 Chang-dong, Dobong-gu) ▲Saemmal Children's Park (Sirubong-ro 15ma-gil) ▲Under Suyu Bridge (Uicheon-ro Suyu Bridge) ▲Under Nuwon Bridge (Dobong-ro 169-gil Nuwon Bridge) ▲Under Nowon Bridge (Dobong-ro 170-gil Nowon Bridge) ▲Daragwon Sports Park (932 Madeul-ro Daragwon Sports Park), among others. ▲Under Ui 3 Bridge (Deokneung-ro Ui 3 Bridge) ▲Sanggye Bridge (Banghak-ro Sanggye Bridge) ▲Dobong 1 Bridge (Madeul-ro Dobong 1 Bridge) will be operated from the end of July. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Since outdoor heatwave shelters are places where many elderly and residents gather, hand sanitizers and contactless thermometers have been provided.

Also, elderly participants in the ‘Senior Job and Social Activity Support Project’ work in pairs on shifts to manage COVID-19 prevention guidance, shelter disinfection, and sanitation, while distributing fans and ice packs to help cool down.

Indoor heatwave shelters are located at Dobong Senior Welfare Center and 12 community service centers (excluding Ssangmun 2-dong and Chang 1-dong community centers). Operating hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Community centers operate until 9 p.m. on weekdays and weekends during heatwave warnings.

Furthermore, the district has partnered with four local lodging businesses to operate ‘Heatwave Safety Accommodations’ to protect the health and safety of vulnerable groups threatened by the heatwave.

The ‘Heatwave Safety Accommodations’ include ▲M Motel (594 Dobong-ro) ▲Internet Motel (65 Uicheon-ro 24-gil) ▲Motel Sehwa (17 Banghak-ro 6-gil) ▲Mong Motel (917 Dobong-ro), four locations across the area.

The ‘Heatwave Safety Accommodations’ assign one room per person from 7 p.m. on the day a heatwave warning is issued until 7 a.m. the next day. Eligible users are seniors aged 65 and older and basic livelihood security recipients with poor housing conditions, among other heatwave-vulnerable groups.

The operation period is until August 31, and usage is available on days when heatwave warnings are issued.

To use the ‘Heatwave Safety Accommodations,’ residents can apply by phone or in person at their local community service center or the district office’s Disaster Safety Division when a heatwave warning is issued.

The district provides necessary quarantine supplies to the accommodations and users to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines, including mask-wearing, hand sanitizer availability, and disinfection, so that seniors can safely escape the heat in the accommodations with peace of mind.

Additionally, the district supports about 400 elderly and mobility-impaired vulnerable seniors who have difficulty using heatwave shelters by providing portable fans, cool mat sets, and heatwave prevention kits to help them cool down at home.

Mayor Dong-jin Lee of Dobong-gu said, “I hope that the outdoor heatwave shelters and nighttime heatwave accommodations will be of some help to seniors who lack places to escape the heat due to COVID-19. We will thoroughly manage the disinfection of heatwave shelters and do our best to ensure that all residents, including vulnerable seniors, can have a healthy and safe summer.”

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