Interior ministry activates emergency response as South Gyeongsang heavy rain isolates residents

The interior ministry said Monday it activated Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 6 a.m. after torrential rain in Geoje and Tongyeong caused flooding and left residents isolated in Geoje.

In Geoje, rescue operations were under way for about 20 people stranded by flooding in Hoejin Village, while about 100 residents of Yesol Village in Aju-dong were being urgently evacuated because of landslide risk.

From Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. Monday, Geoje recorded 782.5 millimeters of cumulative rainfall, while Tongyeong received 628.9 millimeters and Busan's Gangseo district recorded 428.5 millimeters. Peak hourly rainfall exceeded 124.5 millimeters in Geoje, 101.5 millimeters in Gangseo and 97.4 millimeters in Tongyeong.

The headquarters discussed rescues, relief for displaced people and restoration of damaged infrastructure in South Gyeongsang Province. “Above all, the most important thing is to ease, even a little, the suffering of affected residents and help them return to their daily lives quickly,” Yoon Ho-jung, the head of the headquarters, said.

The response will continue until the rain stops and damage recovery is complete. Residents were urged to monitor danger alerts, avoid areas vulnerable to landslides, valley streams and coastlines, and comply with directions from authorities.

The government decided to provide 3 billion won ($2.12 million) in special grants and 40 million won ($28,265) in disaster-relief funding to South Jeolla, Gwangju, Busan and South Gyeongsang Province for emergency repairs to public facilities, relief for displaced residents and urgent living support for people affected by the storms.