NFA activates Central Emergency Rescue Control Group amid heavy rain in the Capital Region and Gangwon Province

[Financial News]  
As heavy rain continued across the Capital Region and Gangwon Province, the National Fire Agency (NFA) activated the Central Emergency Rescue Control Group and entered an emergency response mode so it can immediately deploy large-capacity drainage equipment if large-scale flooding occurs.
On the morning of the 18th, the NFA held a briefing on its response to the heavy rain at the Integrated Command and Coordination Control Center, chaired by Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency Choi Yong-cheol, who also serves as head of the Central Emergency Rescue Control Group. The agency reviewed damage in the Capital Region and Gangwon Province, as well as fire service response measures.
Because heavy rain warnings were issued for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province, the NFA activated the Central Emergency Rescue Control Group at 4:30 a.m. that day. It is maintaining an emergency response system so fire resources can be quickly sent to affected areas when needed.
Fire headquarters in Seoul, Incheon, southern Gyeonggi, northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province joined the meeting by video. Each headquarters reported local weather and damage conditions, the deployment of fire resources and on-site response measures.
Acting Commissioner Choi instructed officials to thoroughly prepare for possible secondary damage, including landslides, ground subsidence, road washouts and collapses, river overflows, and flooding in homes and underground spaces, as prolonged rainfall has weakened the ground.
He also ordered local emergency rescue control groups to be activated quickly in areas facing large-scale damage or the risk of damage, and said available fire resources should be deployed proactively to minimize casualties.
For areas with large-scale flooding that require drainage support, he asked that requests be made to the Central Emergency Rescue Control Group so the high-capacity water discharge systems stationed in Chungju and Seosan can be used immediately.
He also stressed the safety of personnel at the scene. Before beginning rescue or drainage operations, he urged responders to carefully check hazards such as landslides, road collapses and fast currents, and to prevent reckless entry into dangerous areas.
"Rain is expected to continue until the afternoon, so we must maintain the emergency response system and thoroughly prepare for additional damage," Choi said. "If damage occurs, I ask you to do your utmost to protect the lives and safety of the public by responding quickly and systematically, centered on the emergency rescue control group."
He added, "I would also like to thank the firefighters who are staying on the scene despite difficult conditions. Please remain alert until the very end and do your best in both field response and safety management."


spring@fnnews.com Lee Bomi Reporter