Heatwave Alert Raised to 'Severe' Level... Emergency Headquarters Activated

[Financial News]  At 3 p.m. on the 27th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the heatwave disaster alert to the highest level, "severe," and activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ). As heatwave warnings were issued across most of the country after the end of the rainy season, with tropical nights also expected to continue, the ministry decided to strengthen protection for vulnerable groups and inspections of outdoor work sites.
The CDSCHQ will be headed by Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) urged related ministries and local governments to put public safety first and respond to the heatwave with a field-oriented approach.
First, it will intensify welfare checks on vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone, residents of single-room housing, and the homeless, while also inspecting whether cooling supplies are being properly provided. It also plans to visit elderly farmers in person, check their health conditions, and advise them to avoid outdoor activities during the daytime.
At outdoor worksites and businesses vulnerable to heat, authorities will closely supervise and inspect compliance with safety rules, including guaranteed rest periods.
The ministry will also check whether air conditioners at cooling centers and heat-reduction facilities are operating normally and whether residents are facing any inconvenience in using them. In areas where tropical nights continue, it has instructed that operating hours for cooling centers be extended into the night.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety distributed the "Heatwave Severe Alert Response Guide" so that local governments and others can use it immediately when a severe heatwave alert is issued. It will also dispatch additional field situation managers to inspect response measures in each region.
It will also conduct preemptive inspections of social infrastructure such as roads and railways, and plans to support livestock farms and aquaculture businesses by supplying preventive facilities to reduce heatwave damage.
Minister Yoon said, "A heatwave is a disaster that strikes even harder at vulnerable people, including residents of single-room housing, elderly people living alone, and outdoor workers," adding, "We will implement protective measures such as expanding the operation of cooling centers, and we will do everything we can to prevent casualties in close cooperation with local governments." He also urged people in areas where a severe heatwave alert has been issued to "stop outdoor activities immediately and move to a cool place."

[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter