Gangneung in Gangwon Province faces its worst drought on record as the water storage rate at Obong Reservoir, a major water source, has dropped to 15% or below. The government has declared Gangneung a disaster area and mobilized 71 fire trucks nationwide to provide emergency water supply to the Hongje Water Purification Plant, issuing a full mobilization order. Starting from the 2nd, Gangneung City plans to expand water restrictions from the current 50% level to 75%. Citizens are facing difficulties due to water shortages, and institutions such as churches and accommodations are making efforts to reduce water consumption. This is the first time a disaster state has been declared due to drought rather than man-made disasters such as wildfires or oil spills.
