Interior ministry extends summer water-safety measures through Sept. 13

The interior ministry said Friday it will extend summer water-safety measures by two weeks through Sept. 13, citing forecasts of higher-than-usual temperatures and water-safety accidents last September.

The measures began June 1 and had been scheduled to end Aug. 31. The ministry will provide local governments with 8 billion won ($5.65 million) in special disaster-safety grants for water-safety management at rivers, valleys and beaches.

Local governments will take weather conditions and demand for water activities into account as they adjust staffing at high-traffic or high-risk sites. On weekends, they will increase field personnel and patrols in hazardous areas. The grants will fund extended deployments of safety personnel, patrols and access controls in dangerous areas, additional equipment including life jackets, and public outreach on safety rules.

The ministry said it will maintain coordination with relevant agencies and local governments and continue inspecting water-safety management until the measures end.

"People should make sure to follow basic water-safety rules, including wearing life jackets and staying out of dangerous areas," Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung said.