Pohang City Reports No Major Damage Despite Heavy Rain... Proactive Response and Preemptive Risk Prevention

Heavy Rains Due to Stationary Front, Proactive Response Initiated to Minimize Damage

Enhanced Repeated Monitoring and Resident Evacuation Guidance in High-Risk Areas

Although heavy rainfall averaging 130.4mm (with a maximum of 167mm in Ocheongalpyeong) was recorded in Pohang City from the 20th to 9 a.m. on the 22nd, fortunately, no significant damage has been reported.

Pohang City, Proactive Response to Prevent Risks in Advance.

In response to forecasts of a stationary front causing intense rain bands and heavy downpours, the city held a situation assessment meeting at the Disaster Comprehensive Situation Room on the 20th and immediately activated emergency level 1 duty for all departments as soon as a heavy rain advisory was issued in the early morning of the 21st.

Subsequently, Mayor Lee Kangdeok visited the Disaster and Safety Situation Room on the morning of the 21st to encourage emergency staff and instructed that repeated monitoring be strengthened in areas expected to be affected by disasters and in controlled sections. He also ordered proactive measures to be taken without delay in high-risk areas.

Prior to this, the city reinforced preemptive controls in areas at risk of casualties such as valleys, steep slopes, landslide-prone zones, and coastal lowlands. Officials visited residents in vulnerable areas to promote evacuation guidance and proactively evacuated 15 people from 11 households classified as socially vulnerable.

Additionally, the city restricted access to swimmers in valleys and beaches, blocked entry to breakwaters, skywalk trails, and the Hyeongsangang riverside parking lot to prevent accidents. The autonomous disaster prevention teams in each township and district were mobilized to ensure immediate action upon detection of any hazards, focusing administrative resources accordingly.

Furthermore, the city sent disaster alert messages to citizens regarding vehicle evacuation from riverside parking lots, the issuance of coastal accident advisories, and access restrictions to coastal lowlands and landslide-prone areas, providing real-time updates. Patrols were also intensified by deploying safety personnel at underpasses and other locations with potential risk.

In particular, emergency restoration was promptly completed in areas where damage such as partial road flooding and soil runoff occurred.

Once the rain subsides, the city plans to conduct damage assessments of public and private facilities and strengthen proactive responses by continuously monitoring weather conditions in real time.

As of the morning of the 22nd, all heavy rain advisories in Pohang City have been lifted, and all residents who evacuated due to the downpour have returned home. Most of the previously restricted road sections have also reopened.

This rainfall is expected to somewhat alleviate the drought and algal bloom that have persisted in the Pohang area since the July rainy season. The high sea temperatures, which caused significant damage to fishermen this summer, are also expected to subside.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok said, "We will always prioritize the safety of our citizens and do our utmost to respond quickly and proactively to even the smallest signs of danger."

On the morning of the 21st, Mayor Kangdeok Lee of Pohang visited the Disaster Safety Situation Room and instructed to protect the safety of citizens through thorough response.

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