Gapyeong County Mobilizes All-Out Disaster Response Efforts at Torrential Rain Damage Sites

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Gapyeong County announced on the 21st that record-breaking torrential rains have resulted in 2 deaths, 9 missing persons, and 52 landslides.

According to the county, concentrated heavy rainfall with an accumulated precipitation of 322mm fell from the 16th to the 20th. In particular, torrential rain of 110mm per hour fell in Jojoong-myeon at 3 a.m. on the 20th, resulting in casualties including 2 deaths, 9 missing persons, 25 people isolated due to road collapse, and 6 displaced persons.

In response, the county proactively activated the highest alert level emergency management system at 4 a.m. on the 20th and urgently deployed approximately 400 public officials—50% of the entire workforce—to field sites including township offices to mount an all-out response to damage recovery.

Prior to the intensification of heavy rainfall, the county conducted preliminary inspections of riverside walking paths, underground overpasses, and landslide-prone areas, and made efforts to provide real-time information through 138 disaster warning and alert facilities, disaster information signboards, and emergency disaster text messages.

County Governor Seo Tae-won stated, "Given that the ground has weakened due to record-breaking torrential rains, we plan to maintain emergency management operations and continue field-focused response measures to prevent further damage expansion," and added, "We will do our utmost to the end to protect the lives and property of our residents."