Governor Kim Dong-yeon Issues Special Directive on 'Snow Removal in High-Risk Areas and Strengthened Management of Vulnerable Groups'

Panorama of Gyeonggi-do Disaster Situation Room Photo by Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, issued special instructions to strengthen snow removal in hazardous areas and management of vulnerable groups as the cold wave is expected to continue until the 29th following heavy snowfall.

On the 26th at 2 p.m., Governor Kim conveyed these instructions through an official document to the provincial office and disaster departments of cities and counties.

In the official document, Governor Kim requested ▲ rapid snow removal operations to prepare for traffic congestion and road icing during the evening commute, inspection of ice-prone sections, and strengthening of preventive activities including patrols ▲ prioritizing snow removal on highways and roads connecting the metropolitan area boundaries and cooperation among neighboring local governments ▲ caution regarding accidents on expressways (such as tunnel entrances) due to road black ice caused by temperature drops and promotion of public transportation use ▲ management of snow removal personnel fatigue ▲ mutual resource management among cities and counties to manage snow removal material stock ▲ prevention of water pipe and meter freezing, and management of vulnerable groups to cold waves including elderly living alone.

Earlier, on the 25th afternoon, following the issuance of a heavy snow advisory in the province, an emergency meeting was held chaired by the First Deputy Governor to prepare for heavy snow and cold waves, and from 10 p.m., the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters began operating at Emergency Level 1.

Emergency Level 1 is led by the head of the Provincial Natural Disaster Division and staffed by a total of 16 personnel covering roads, railways, agriculture, and other sectors. Including personnel from 31 cities and counties, about 2,500 public officials are deployed for duty.

For snow removal operations, the province is operating about 4,000 personnel, 1,800 pieces of equipment, and 434 automatic snow removal devices, focusing on major roads such as habitual congestion sections during the evening commute and roads connecting the metropolitan area.

The province is also conducting operational inspections of 6,777 cold wave shelters across the province until the 27th.

Meanwhile, as of 2 p.m. on the same day, the cold wave damage situation in the province reported 28 cases of frozen water meters and 6 patients with cold-related illnesses.

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