The National Fire Agency said on the 17th it is responding by mobilizing all available firefighting resources in Geoje, South Gyeongsang, where torrential rain has poured down.
The Geoje Fire Station issued response level 1 for Geoje at 1:10 a.m. the same day and raised it to level 2 at 6:18 a.m. This followed a surge in 119 calls in Geoje due to the overlap of torrential rain and high tide causing flooding.
In response, the National Fire Agency urgently deployed the National 119 Rescue Headquarters Yeongnam 119 Special Rescue Team, the Honam 119 Special Rescue Team, and the Ulsan 119 Chemical Rescue Center to the scene. Special equipment, including a high-capacity foam discharge system, was also dispatched. Starting at 2:40 a.m., the National Fire Agency activated its situation response team and has been closely managing on-site conditions.
To support on-site response and command, the National Fire Agency dispatched an on-site situation manager, and the Geoje Fire Station and the South Gyeongsang Fire Headquarters activated an emergency rescue control group to carry out rescues, evacuations of residents, and safety measures in flooded areas.
Across Geoje, rescue operations continue for residents isolated by flooding of dwellings and vehicles and by landslides. In Yesol Village in Aju-dong, officials guided the evacuation of about 100 residents, and in Hoejin Village in Irun-myeon, they rescued and evacuated about 30 isolated residents. In addition, rescues and safety measures continue in affected areas including Dundeok-myeon, Sadeung-myeon, Jangpyeong-dong, Geoje-myeon, and Gohyeon-dong.
Choi Yong-cheol, acting commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, "In rescue operations due to the torrential rain, put life-saving first, and proceed with on-site operations after closely checking risk factors in flooded areas."