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Key Points

South Korea has launched a massive emergency operation to address Gangneung's worst-ever drought. The government deployed military personnel, helicopters, fire trucks and even a Coast Guard patrol ship to transport water. Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87% of the city's household water, has dropped to a critically low 13.2% capacity. Authorities are implementing water restrictions while neighboring areas also face severe shortages.

Key Points: South Korea Deploys Military Coast Guard to Combat Gangneung Drought

  • Obong Reservoir at critical 13.2% level supplying 87% of city water
  • Military deploys 800 troops and 400 water tankers for emergency response
  • Coast Guard vessel and 71 fire trucks mobilized for water transport
  • City imposes water restrictions on 45,000 households and major facilities
2 min read

South Korea: Soldiers, fire trucks, Coast Guard ship deployed to supply water to drought-hit Gangneung

South Korea deploys soldiers, helicopters, fire trucks and a Coast Guard ship to supply water to drought-stricken Gangneung as reservoir levels hit record lows.

"Authorities poured 26,416 tonnes of water into the reservoir on Thursday - Official Report"

Seoul, Sep 5

Full-scale efforts have been launched to supply water to the eastern coastal city of South Korea's Gangneung battling its worst-ever drought on record, with soldiers, helicopters, fire trucks and a Coast Guard patrol ship deployed, officials said Friday.

Last Saturday, the government declared the city's drought as a state of disaster after the water storage level of Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87 per cent of household water to the Gangneung area, fell to a record low of 15.7 per cent.

The reservoir's water level has continued to decline, reaching 13.2 per cent as of 11 a.m. Friday, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous day.

In a bid to replenish Gangneung's water supply, the National Fire Agency has mobilised 71 fire trucks, while the Coast Guard has dispatched a 5,000-tonne vessel tasked with patrolling the East Sea to carry water into the city.

The defence ministry has also deployed some 800 troops and around 400 water tankers, while 10 helicopters were mobilised Friday to drop water into Obong Reservoir.

Authorities poured 26,416 tonnes of water into the reservoir on Thursday and plan to supply 29,792 tonnes of water on Friday.

On top of such efforts, the city of Gangneung said it would partially limit supplying water to 123 large-scale water users, including residential complexes of some 45,000 households and major accommodation facilities, from Saturday.

If the water storage level falls below 10 per cent, the city plans to roll out further water conservation measures in phases, such as restricting water use from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. or even every other day, Yonhap news agency reported.

Other nearby areas are also suffering from the drought, with the coastal city of Samcheok and the county of Jeongseon experiencing drinking water shortages.

Samcheok has been delivering drinking water to 683 residents across 24 towns since Sunday, while Jeongseon started making such deliveries to 318 residents across 6 towns on August 21.

The water level of Gwangdong Dam, which supplies water to parts of Samcheok and Jeongseon, has currently fallen to 39 per cent.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Impressive how they're using a 5000-tonne Coast Guard ship to transport water! That's innovative thinking. Hope the people of Gangneung get relief soon. Monsoon failures are becoming too common everywhere.
A
Arjun K
While the response is commendable, this shows how vulnerable we all are to climate change. Reservoirs at 13% is alarming. We need to invest more in rainwater harvesting and conservation measures before crises hit.
S
Sarah B
Deploying 800 troops and 400 water tankers shows serious government commitment. Hope they can stabilize the situation before it gets worse. Water is life - no one should have to struggle for basic needs.
V
Vikram M
The part about restricting water supply to 45,000 households is worrying. Can't imagine what those families are going through. We take water for granted until it's not there. Time for all of us to be more conscious about water usage.
M
Michael C
The scale of this operation is massive - 71 fire trucks, helicopters dropping water, coast guard ships. Respect to South Korea for pulling out all stops. Hope other countries are taking notes on disaster response preparedness.

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