Interior ministry orders flood response ahead of heavy rain

South Korea's interior ministry said Saturday that Minister Yoon Ho-joong had ordered agencies to prepare for heavy rain forecast from Saturday night, with the strongest downpours expected overnight and at dawn. The ministry said it issued the orders to minimize loss of life and property damage.

Hourly rainfall of 30 to 50 millimeters is expected near South Jeolla Province's southern coast and Jirisan from Saturday night into the following morning, and near South Gyeongsang Province's coast and Jirisan from before dawn into daytime.

Forecasts through Aug. 17 call for 50 to 150 millimeters in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province, with amounts above 200 millimeters possible along the province's southern coast and near Jirisan.

The ministry said the overnight and dawn hours were a vulnerable period for response, and Yoon ordered reporting systems to prevent gaps in situation management. He instructed local officials, police and firefighters in affected areas to share information in real time and coordinate their response, and said field personnel should take sufficient safety measures before beginning their work.

He called for inspections and access controls at campsites and campgrounds, with visitors and residents to be evacuated immediately if danger signs emerge around valleys and rivers.

Authorities were also directed to monitor landslide-prone areas, underpasses and semi-basement homes, and ready evacuations. They were to restrict access to rocky shores and prepare for flooding in low-lying coastal areas through Aug. 16, when high spring tides are expected.

Agencies were ordered to use disaster text messages and village broadcasts to share weather information and access restrictions. "Please check weather information frequently, take care against flash floods when passing through valleys or rivers, and be particularly prepared for flooding in low-lying coastal areas," Yoon said.