16 dead due to extreme heat, Suyang placed under a state of emergency
By Metro Correspondent Jang Yu-jun
SUYANG: As of 6 pm CHT, a state of emergency has been authorized for Suyang Province, as 13 have died there as a result of excessive heat, which reached 40° in the city and as high as 43° nationwide. While air conditioning has been mandated in new construction since 2002, it is estimated that nearly 2 million in the Suyang Metro Area are without the service, and require some alternative form of relief from the heat. Initiated in the Chamber of Deputies under the guidance of Prime Minister Sabrina Hwang, the mandate was signed by President Kim I-seul this afternoon, and authorizes the use of the Homeland Guard and Coast Guard to help facilitate heat relief in the city. The heat wave is expected to last until the evening tomorrow, August 4th.
Suyang has emerged as a flashpoint in the battle to keep cool due to its local government’s relatively muted response. While some cities like Sinju and Hanyeong are fully air conditioned and merely ordered more electricity from foreign providers, other cities have taken more extreme measures. Anmi, with the support of the Haesanite Navy, opened up Navy Yard to allow greater access to the water, along with opening up the city’s fire hydrants to help its residents keep cool. Haseon, typically known for its winter sports scene, paid resorts to set up artificial snow generators in public plazas. Hyangsan coordinated with Suri Motors to allow those without aircon to stay in one of the company’s many factories in the city. However, despite beaches packed and subway trains crowded with those seeking relief, the Suyang’s mayor has so far issued no additional guidance besides echoing the standard federal advice. With no plan in place, and over a dozen dead, the National Assembly decided it needed to step in to prevent the situation from worsening.
It is expected that the Homeland Guard will help facilitate water dropoffs and will be working to set up an extensive system of misters across the city, especially in areas with older apartment towers. The Coast Guard will likely be using boats equipped with water jets to aid those who come to coastal areas or the Su River bank. The mayor of Suyang has not issued a response to this state of emergency. 8 of the 13 members of Suyang City Council have denounced her inactivity.
