Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, "Regulations on Embankment Dredging Must Be Lifted to Prevent River Flooding"

Proposal for Reassessment of Landslide Hazard Management Areas

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, proposed easing regulations for flood prevention and reconsidering landslide risk management at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 17th.

According to Gyeongnam Province, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting was attended by Governor Park along with heads of 18 metropolitan local governments nationwide, the Commissioner of the National Police Agency, and other related officials.

The attendees shared and reviewed the damage to facilities caused by heavy rain and the recovery measures taken in each region between the night of the 14th and the 16th.

Governor Park Wan-su of Gyeongnam Province is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk-yeol.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Governor Park urged, “Please ease regulations to allow dredging inside embankments to prevent rivers from overflowing during heavy rain and establish regulations to install standardized barrier facilities along riverbanks.”

He also said, “More landslides occurred in areas other than designated landslide risk management zones, so a comprehensive review of these zones is necessary.”

In response, President Yoon instructed, “Actively consider easing regulations for the safety of the people.”

President Yoon Suk-yeol is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

At a subsequent meeting with mayors and county heads in the province, Governor Park emphasized, “With the ground weakened by concentrated heavy rain, the likelihood of landslides increases if more rain falls. Continuous monitoring and proactive evacuation of residents must be ensured.”

He added, “To prevent casualties in urban areas like the Osong underpass accident, it is necessary to strengthen patrols in urban areas,” and urged, “Responsible officials must patrol their jurisdictions regularly and take control measures when necessary.”

According to the province, as of 8 a.m. on the 16th, the average accumulated rainfall in the province reached 509 mm.

Namhae recorded 854 mm, Geoje 662 mm, and Sacheon 625 mm, with heavy rain continuing during the monsoon season.

The province completed ▲ repeated inspections of 12,723 disaster-prone sites such as steep slopes across the entire province ▲ preemptive control of 26 riverside parking lots, 184 riverside areas (including walking trails and Sewolgyo Bridge), and 31 roads at risk of flooding ▲ preemptive evacuation of 464 households and 636 people in 17 cities and counties.

A total of 4,142 provincial and municipal officials are on level 2 emergency duty, which will be adjusted to level 3 if weather warnings expand.

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