Gangneung: Full-scale efforts have been launched to supply water to the eastern coastal city of Gangneung, which is battling its worst-ever drought on record. Soldiers, helicopters, fire trucks, and a Coast Guard patrol ship have been deployed, officials reported Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the government declared Gangneung's drought as a state of disaster last Saturday. This came after the water storage level of the Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87 percent of household water to the area, fell to a record low of 15.7 percent. The situation has continued to worsen, with the reservoir's water level dropping to 13.2 percent as of 11 a.m. Friday.
To address the crisis, the National Fire Agency has mobilized 71 fire trucks, and the Coast Guard has dispatched a 5,000-ton vessel to transport water into the city. The defense ministry has also deployed approximately 800 troops, 400 water tankers, and 10 helicopters to deliver water to the Obong Reservoir.
Efforts on Thursday included pouring 26,416 tons of water into the reservoir, with plans to supply an additional 29,792 tons on Friday. Gangneung authorities have announced that they will partially limit water supply to 123 large-scale users, affecting residential complexes of approximately 45,000 households and major accommodation facilities, starting Saturday.
If the water storage level drops below 10 percent, the city plans to implement further conservation measures, including restricting water use from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. or alternating days.
Nearby areas are also grappling with drought conditions. The coastal city of Samcheok and Jeongseon County are experiencing drinking water shortages, prompting Samcheok to deliver water to 683 residents across 24 towns since Sunday, and Jeongseon to begin deliveries to 318 residents across 6 towns since August 21. The Gwangdong Dam, a water source for parts of Samcheok and Jeongseon, has seen its level fall to 39 percent.