Gyeongnam Province Protects Residents from Typhoon Risks through Pre-Evacuation and Pre-Control Measures

Full-scale Response Including Dispatch of Former City and County Field Situation Managers

"To prevent casualties caused by typhoons, proactive control of risk areas and prior evacuation of residents are very important."

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, emphasized the prevention of casualties during a typhoon preparedness meeting with mayors and county heads on the 8th.

According to Gyeongnam Province on the 9th, Governor Park instructed, "Especially, please proactively block access to and from underground passages in advance and evacuate residents living in coastal or landslide-prone areas, as well as vacationers during the holiday season."

Gyeongnam Province is implementing maximum pre-control of disaster-vulnerable areas such as flooding and collapse, and resident evacuation in accordance with the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast that Typhoon No. 6 "Khanun," with a central pressure of 965 hPa and maximum wind speed of 37 m/s, will affect various parts of Gyeongnam from the 9th.

Very strong and heavy rain and strong winds are expected throughout the province, and pre-control measures are being implemented to prepare for heavy rain, high waves, and coastal flooding.

Expected path of Typhoon Khanun No. 6 as of 10:00 AM on August 9, 2023. [Image source=Korea Meteorological Administration Weather Nuri]

To prepare for strong coastal winds, storm surges, and high waves, on the 7th, the province communicated guidance on fishing vessel evacuation and safety management of fisheries facilities to all cities and counties.

All fishing vessels, including 13,589 fishing boats and 1,172 fishing charter boats, have returned to ports, and all 26 beaches in the province are closed to the public on this day.

Access and entry to 1,528 disaster-vulnerable facilities such as underground passages, riverside parking lots, and low-lying flood-prone areas are also blocked.

In particular, 60 underground passages have designated on-site managers, including 19 from cities and counties and 41 from towns and townships, who are managing safety.

Proactive evacuation of residents living in risk areas such as coastal and riverside areas, flood-prone zones, mountainous and valley regions, and landslide-prone areas is also being promoted.

As of the 8th, the province has planned to evacuate 2,084 residents and will immediately move residents to safe locations if warning signs appear.

Together with cities and counties, the province is focusing on guiding residents in risk areas to evacuate and preparing shelters, and plans to increase the number of evacuees in risk areas according to the typhoon's strength and path to prevent casualties.

Table of vehicle operation restriction criteria on Machang Bridge and Geoga Expressway during strong winds. [Data provided by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The province is also considering pre-control of the Machang Bridge and Geoga Expressway.

These roads will be fully closed if the average wind speed over 10 minutes reaches 25 m/s and 20 m/s respectively, but roads may be closed in advance depending on the typhoon situation.

Thirty-six on-site situation managers will be dispatched to 18 cities and counties in the province.

The provincial on-site situation managers are organized into two teams totaling 72 members, who will monitor in real time ▲disaster site damage status ▲progress of emergency measures such as rescue and first aid ▲resident evacuation and the recovery status of city and county countermeasure headquarters, reporting to the province and supporting the field.

They will manage situations by encouraging resident evacuation to cities and counties, conducting emergency safety inspections and controls of semi-basements, steep slopes, underground passages, riversides, coastal roads, breakwaters, and shelters.

Ships have taken refuge at the harbor in Gapo-dong, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Gyeongnam Province has been implementing emergency duty level 1 since the morning of the 8th and is monitoring the typhoon's path 24 hours a day.

Governor Park said, "In the face of increasingly large and diverse disasters due to abnormal climate, close cooperative response between the province and cities and counties is becoming more important. I hope the provincial on-site situation managers will play a significant role in establishing an organic cooperation system between the province and cities/counties and in preparing practical, field-centered measures. I also ask residents to monitor weather conditions closely and refrain from outdoor activities and going out."

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