Officials attend an emergency inspection meeting. [Yeongdeok-gun]
Officials attend an emergency inspection meeting. [Yeongdeok-gun]

Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province held an emergency meeting Sunday at the county office's first conference room to address the ongoing heat wave and summer vacation season, with County Chief Jo Ju-hong presiding.

The meeting was convened despite falling on a holiday, as authorities sought to secure public safety amid a continuing heat wave advisory, minimize drought damage and quickly resolve inconveniences faced by vacationers visiting the county during the summer season.

Key topics included easing traffic congestion at tollgates and major roads, managing the safety and health of beachgoers and tourists at major destinations such as the Yeongdeok Golden Sweetfish Festival grounds and swimming beaches, preventing heat-related illnesses, and proactively managing water resources in response to the drought.

Yeongdeok-gun decided to deploy traffic guides on an emergency basis at key entry points into the county to ease road congestion.

The county also plans to provide drivers with real-time detour information by linking variable message signs on roads with mobile navigation services.

It will concentrate its administrative resources on easing traffic by working closely with police and other relevant agencies to prevent congestion during holidays and consecutive days off in the summer season.

The county will also conduct a full review of cooling shelters for vulnerable groups, including elderly people living alone and outdoor workers, to minimize heat wave damage.

To prepare for the prolonged drought, the county will bring wells and pumping equipment into emergency operation to supply agricultural water and will significantly strengthen monitoring to prevent damage to fish farms caused by high water temperatures.

"I ask all public officials to take responsibility and carry out proactive, field-centered administration to minimize heat wave damage and ensure that tourists and residents visiting the area do not experience inconvenience or safety accidents on roads or at beaches," County Chief Jo said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com