Interior ministry declares October drought alert as 97 areas hit

The interior ministry said Tuesday that 97 areas across the country were in meteorological drought as of Oct. 1, after six months of nationwide rainfall that reached only 72.5 percent of the 1991-2020 average, or 783.3 millimeters.

Weak drought at the "interest" stage was recorded in 74 areas and moderate drought at the "caution" stage in 22 areas, while Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province reached the "alert" stage of severe drought, according to the October drought forecast and warning the ministry released Tuesday morning.

Rainfall during the six-month accumulation fell from 84.8 percent of the norm on Sept. 1 to 72.5 percent on Oct. 1, and the number of areas in meteorological drought rose from 34 cities and counties to 97. The farm reservoir storage rate fell over the same period from 80.7 percent of the norm to 70.1 percent.

Reservoirs that feed household and industrial water are also drawn down: storage at 19 multipurpose dams and 12 water-supply dams stood at 84.8 percent and 59.6 percent of their usual levels. Farm reservoir storage was 48.3 percent of capacity against a normal 68.9 percent. Storage relative to the norm was lower in the southern regions of Jeolla, Gyeongsang and Jeju, ranging from 51.4 to 70.1 percent, than in central regions, at 80.7 to 94.0 percent.

Unmun Dam and Seomjin River Dam are at the "serious" stage, Miryang Dam at "alert," and Seongdeok, Andong, Imha, Yeongcheon, Pyeongnim and Donghwa dams at "caution." Boryeong Dam and Gunwi Dam are at "interest." The ministry said household and industrial water is being supplied normally because drought countermeasures are in place.

Rainfall is expected to be near normal this month and above normal in November and December, and the severe drought at the "alert" stage is expected to ease to "caution" by late December, the ministry said. The government held a joint drought countermeasure task force meeting on Oct. 12 with the interior ministry, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Korea Meteorological Administration and public institutions to analyze the situation and review water supply plans.

"We will continue to cooperate closely with the relevant ministries to carefully monitor drought conditions nationwide and preemptively manage areas where drought is expected, doing our utmost to minimize inconvenience to the public," said Kim Yong-kyun, director-general for natural disaster management at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.