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Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung visits Waji Reservoir in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, an area at risk of drought damage, on the afternoon of the 2nd to check on-site conditions, including water storage levels and water supply status. / Ministry of the Interior and Safety

To respond to prolonged heatwave and drought conditions, the government has decided to provide an additional 25 billion won in special disaster and safety management grants to 16 cities and provinces.

The government previously provided 30 billion won for heatwave response back in April, followed by 5.75 billion won for drought response on the 3rd of this month. With this latest 25 billion won addition, total special disaster grant funding for this summer's heatwave and drought response now reaches 60.75 billion won.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 10th that it will urgently provide the additional 25 billion won in special disaster grants, following the president's instruction at a review meeting on heatwave and drought response held on the 6th to mobilize all available administrative resources to minimize harm to the public.

Persistent heat and insufficient rainfall have caused reservoir levels to drop and led to difficulties supplying water, particularly in southern regions, with drought-related damage on the rise. Concerns also continue over casualties from heat-related illness amid the prolonged heatwave. Sustained, field-focused response is needed to secure water supplies in drought-affected areas and protect vulnerable populations from the heat.

The newly allocated special disaster grants will be used primarily for drought measures such as well drilling, riverbed excavation, securing alternative water sources, and reservoir dredging. Funds will also go toward heatwave response, including operating cooling shelters and monitoring activities for heat-vulnerable populations. The ministry said it will closely manage the process to ensure local governments can swiftly execute the funds.

Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung said, "This is a serious situation in which prolonged extreme heat and drought are threatening people's daily lives," adding, "The central and local governments will work closely together and do everything possible to minimize harm to the public."

                                                                                                           Kim Bo-young