Kim Dong-yeon Visits Search Site for Weekend Missing Persons: "I Pray Earnestly for Their Safe Return"

[Suwon Ilbo = Park Nohun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the search site for missing persons following heavy weekend rainfall.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced through his SNS on the 13th, "Due to record-breaking torrential rain that poured down on Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, an elderly woman in her 70s and a man in his 60s went outside to deal with water flooding their home. Since then, following their granddaughter's report, we have been searching for the two missing persons for several days in this heartbreaking situation. Currently, 127 firefighters and rescue personnel, along with 18 firefighting drones, boats, and other equipment, are mobilized to conduct searches across a 23km range including Mok-hyeon Stream, Yeong-eun Art Museum (Gyeong-an Stream confluence point), Seoha Bridge, Gwangdong Bridge, Paldang Sonae Island, and Yangpyeong Paldang Lake, divided into four search zones."

He continued, "In protecting the lives and safety of our residents, we will respond with utmost speed and strengthen proactive surveillance activities to minimize casualties. I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the missing persons and will mobilize all available means to ease their suffering. I will pray earnestly for the safe return of the two missing persons."

The following is the full text of Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<I Pray Earnestly for the Safe Return of These Two Persons>
This morning, I visited the search site for missing persons at Mok-hyeon Stream in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Due to record-breaking torrential rain that poured down on Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, an elderly woman in her 70s and a man in his 60s went outside to deal with water flooding their home. Since then, following their granddaughter's report, we have been searching for the two missing persons for several days in this heartbreaking situation.
Currently, 127 firefighters and rescue personnel, along with 18 firefighting drones, boats, and other equipment, are mobilized to conduct searches across a 23km range including Mok-hyeon Stream, Yeong-eun Art Museum (Gyeong-an Stream confluence point), Seoha Bridge, Gwangdong Bridge, Paldang Sonae Island, and Yangpyeong Paldang Lake, divided into four search zones.
During this heavy rainfall, Gwangju received a cumulative rainfall of 605mm, representing extraordinary precipitation. With predictions of 3 to 4 more days of rain ahead, our concerns are great.
I extend my renewed gratitude to the firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and police conducting the search, as well as officials from related agencies including Gwangju City Hall and the Korea Water Resources Corporation.
While the work is difficult, I have earnestly urged all personnel to do their utmost in search and rescue operations. I also emphasized that if the heavy rainfall continues, search and rescue activities must be adapted to the field conditions, and that advance inspections, surveillance activities, and bold evacuation measures in case of danger must be implemented.
In protecting the lives and safety of our residents, we will respond with utmost speed and strengthen proactive surveillance activities to minimize casualties.
I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the missing persons and will mobilize all available means to ease their suffering. I will pray earnestly for the safe return of the two missing persons.