Interior ministry raises heavy-rain crisis alert for southern regions

The interior ministry said Sunday it raised its heavy-rain crisis alert from interest to caution for southern South Korea at 7 a.m., citing expanded weather advisories and possible intense rainfall outside forecast areas.

It called on local governments and relevant agencies to monitor conditions and flooding and landslide risk information in areas receiving concentrated rain. It also instructed them to conduct proactive inspections, access controls and evacuations in high-risk areas and use disaster alert and warning channels to relay public safety guidance.

The ministry held a 6:30 a.m. situation assessment meeting led by its disaster and safety management headquarters chief, reviewing regional rainfall and damage, inspections at campgrounds, campsites and landslide-prone areas, and the availability of evacuation sites.

Three on-site situation managers were dispatched to South Gyeongsang Province after forecasts called for heavy rain near Jirisan.

"The government will not let down its guard and will make every effort with relevant agencies to manage the situation and minimize damage from heavy rain," Yoon Ho-joong, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said. He asked the public to watch for nearby dangers and cooperate with any local-government access restrictions or evacuation notices.