Seoul's Dobong-gu district has launched an all-out response to protect vulnerable residents and prevent power outages caused by surging electricity demand during the ongoing extreme heat.
As a critical-level heat advisory took effect across Seoul, Dobong-gu convened an emergency heatwave response meeting Friday, chaired by District Mayor Kim Dong-wook.
Kim was joined by the heads of all departments involved in heatwave response, who held intensive discussions on emergency measures across each area of responsibility following the advisory upgrade.
Kim expressed particular concern that a blackout during the sweltering summer heat would cause maximum inconvenience and harm to residents, and directed officials to place special emphasis on preventive measures.
He called for strengthened cooperation with Korea Electric Power Corporation and other relevant agencies to ensure rapid restoration in the event of a large-scale outage, and asked that temporary evacuation shelters for affected residents be reviewed and reinforced.
The district is consistently advising apartment complexes in the area to inspect their electrical systems and conserve power, while also conducting on-site safety inspections at smaller, more vulnerable residential buildings.
The district has also secured a contact network of electrical equipment repair companies in the area to enable immediate restoration should aging housing suffer outages from power overloads.
Protection measures for residents most vulnerable to extreme heat are also being tightened. The district plans to step up welfare checks — currently conducted in person or by phone — on elderly residents, people with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses.
The district is also working to operate and inspect its network of cooling shelters for residents who need a place to escape the heat. A total of 164 cooling shelters are currently in operation at district offices, community centers, libraries, welfare centers and senior centers.
Particularly notable are the "nighttime cooling shelters" operated through agreements with local accommodation businesses, which fill the gap left when other shelters close in the evening; they have served about 300 people in total.
The district has also put in place a range of measures for residents suffering from the heat outdoors.
It is running 170 shade structures, 12 cooling-fog installations, 12 smart rest shelters and one "Happiso" facility as part of its concentrated heat-mitigation infrastructure.
In addition, six water-spraying trucks — carrying a combined 219 tons of water — have been deployed to cover 330 kilometers of roads in the district to help ease the urban heat island effect.
"Every department is maintaining emergency readiness and doing its utmost to prepare for all disaster scenarios arising from the prolonged heatwave, including blackouts and heat-related illness," Kim said. "We will make every effort to ensure a swift and thorough on-the-ground disaster response, with residents' lives and safety as our top priority."
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