How many water tankers were sent to South Gyeongsang Province for the drought response?

Fire authorities deployed 159 water tankers to supply water across South Gyeongsang Province. Of those, 100 came from outside the province to reinforce the drought response.

Why did fire authorities extend the national mobilization order in South Gyeongsang?

They extended it because the province was suffering from severe drought and low water storage levels. The average reservoir storage rate was 32.2 percent, well below the long-term average of 70.6 percent.

What did the interior ministry say it would do as the drought worsened in southern regions?

The interior ministry said it would set up a dedicated task force and cooperate with private logistics companies. The plan is to transport water trucks, pumps and other equipment to affected areas.

Over 150 firefighting water tankers mobilized to supply water to drought-hit southeast

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Summary

Fire authorities deployed 159 water tankers to South Gyeongsang Province in Changwon on Friday to supply water under an extended national firefighting mobilization order. The province’s average reservoir storage rate was 32.2 percent, far below the long-term average of 70.6 percent. Authorities had supplied 12,445 tons of water over the previous two days, and the interior ministry said it would set up a task force and work with private logistics firms.

Key Facts

A total of 159 water tankers were mobilized, including 100 vehicles from outside South Gyeongsang Province.
The province’s average water reservoir storage rate stood at 32.2 percent on Friday, compared with a long-term average of 70.6 percent.
Under the national mobilization order issued Tuesday, fire authorities supplied 12,445 tons of water to the province over the next two days.
The interior ministry said it would establish a dedicated task force and work with private logistics companies to transport water trucks, pumps and other equipment.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 14, 2026 11:11 am KST

Firefighters fill a dried-up reservoir with water in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, Thrusday. Yonhap

CHANGWON — Fire authorities deployed more than 150 water tankers Friday to supply water to South Gyeongsang Province under an extended national firefighting mobilization order to combat a severe drought in the southeastern region.

A total of 159 water tankers, including 100 vehicles from outside the province, were mobilized to deliver water to drought-hit areas across South Gyeongsang, according to the local provincial firefighting headquarters.

The deployment comes after fire authorities decided to extend the national mobilization order, initially scheduled to end Thursday, as the province suffers from low water storage levels.

The province's average water reservoir storage rate stood at 32.2 percent Friday, well below the long-term average of 70.6 percent.

Under the national mobilization order issued Tuesday, fire authorities supplied 12,445 tons of water to the province over the next two days.

In response to the deepening drought situation in southern regions, the interior ministry said it would set up a dedicated task force and work with private logistics companies to transport water trucks, pumps and other equipment.

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