Handuksoo Urgently Orders "All Ministries to Ensure Thorough Crisis Management" Following Earthquake Alert Upgrade

Prime Minister Han Deok-su Issues Emergency Order for "Prompt Response by All Ministries" Following Earthquake Alert Upgrade to "Caution"
"Prompt Response by All Ministries" Emergency Order Following Earthquake Alert Upgrade to "Caution"

On the 15th, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred in the East Sea area of Gangwon, prompting Prime Minister Han Deok-su to urgently instruct all ministries to respond swiftly. This was due to the earthquake alert being raised to the 'Caution' level. Earthquake alerts are issued in order from the mildest stage: Interest - Caution - Warning - Serious.

First, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was asked to guide behavioral instructions so that people can evacuate quickly when danger signs are detected. He also mentioned the need to comprehensively inspect and prepare the operation status of the alert and warning facilities.

The Ministers of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport were requested to ensure that there are no disruptions to national infrastructure services such as nuclear power plants, electricity, communications, and transportation, and to make thorough preparations for emergency contingency measures in case of emergencies. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration were instructed to provide transparent real-time earthquake-related information so that the public does not become excessively agitated due to the earthquake.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is attending the Ministerial Meeting on State Affairs held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 6th, delivering opening remarks. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Prime Minister Han stated, “We will check the duties and roles according to each agency’s crisis management manual and continuously strengthen publicity so that the public can familiarize themselves with the behavioral guidelines.”

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, at around 6:27 a.m. on the day, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 52 km northeast off the coast of Donghae City, Gangwon Province. The depth of the epicenter was estimated to be 32 km. Earthquakes occurring on the Korean Peninsula, located within the Eurasian Plate, usually have an epicenter depth of about 10 km, so this earthquake was deeper. The average depth of epicenters for earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or higher in the Korean Peninsula and surrounding seas is about 8 km.

This is the largest earthquake among those occurring in the Korean Peninsula and surrounding seas this year. It is the first time in 1 year and 5 months since a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred 41 km southwest off the coast of Seogwipo City, Jeju, on December 14, 2021, that an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or higher has occurred. According to meteorological records, there have been a total of 28 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or higher in the Korean Peninsula and surrounding seas since 1978. Even when considering earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or higher, this earthquake is the largest in about 7 months since the magnitude 4.1 earthquake in Goesan County, Chungbuk, on October 29 last year.

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