South Korean PM orders full mobilization for flood recovery, warns of continued rain
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo directed a full mobilization of equipment and personnel for emergency recovery in areas affected by heavy rainfall.
- The Prime Minister acknowledged property damage, including flooded homes and roads, but noted no fatalities occurred overnight.
- With continued rain expected, authorities are prioritizing resident safety, including preemptive evacuations in landslide-risk areas.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has ordered a comprehensive response to the heavy rainfall impacting the nation, emphasizing the need for swift emergency recovery efforts. "We cannot afford to let our guard down, as rain is still falling in many areas and heavy rain is forecast until tomorrow," Han stated during an emergency response meeting.
We cannot afford to let our guard down, as rain is still falling in many areas and heavy rain is forecast until tomorrow.
While thankfully no lives were lost due to the intense downpour that began overnight, significant property damage has been reported, including flooded homes and roads. "I offer words of comfort to the citizens who have suffered damage," the Prime Minister said.
I offer words of comfort to the citizens who have suffered damage.
The government is particularly concerned about the risk of landslides in regions like Chungcheong and Gangwon, which have already experienced substantial rainfall. Han instructed the Korea Forest Service and local governments to ensure residents in high-risk zones can evacuate proactively. "For areas where flood damage has occurred, please swiftly carry out emergency recovery by fully deploying available equipment and personnel to minimize inconvenience to residents," he urged.
For areas where flood damage has occurred, please swiftly carry out emergency recovery by fully deploying available equipment and personnel to minimize inconvenience to residents.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of safety for recovery workers and encouraged citizens to report any signs of danger to local authorities. He expressed gratitude to public officials and related personnel working on the front lines, urging them to continue their best efforts until the rain stops.
Please ensure residents in high-risk zones can evacuate proactively.
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.