Why was South Gyeongsang Province placed under drought emergency measures?

The province was under severe water stress, with all 18 municipalities entering drought stages Thursday. Hamyang County, which had been the only unaffected area, was also placed under a drought watch, and the province’s average water storage rate fell to 32.8 percent.

What other government and military support was sent to help with the drought in the southeast?

An additional 14 vehicles from the Army, Air Force, Navy and the forestry service joined the operation. By Wednesday evening, authorities had already delivered nearly 4,770 tons of water to the province.

Fire trucks, military deployed to combat drought in southeast

Q: How many fire tankers and personnel were sent to South Gyeongsang Province for the drought response?

Fire authorities deployed 200 water tankers and about 400 personnel nationwide under a national firefighting mobilization order issued Tuesday. The goal was to deliver water to farms and households across the drought-hit area.

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Summary

Firefighting water tankers and military vehicles were deployed Thursday to supply water to South Gyeongsang Province as drought deepened in Korea’s southeast. Fire authorities sent 200 water tankers and about 400 personnel nationwide under a national mobilization order issued Tuesday. All 18 municipalities in the province entered drought stages Thursday, and Hamyang County was placed under a drought watch.

Key Facts

An additional 14 vehicles from the Army, Air Force, Navy and the forestry service joined the water-supply effort.
As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, fire authorities had delivered nearly 4,770 tons of water to the province.
The average water storage rate in South Gyeongsang Province’s 18 municipalities was 32.8 percent, far below the long-term average of 70.8 percent.
It was the second time a nationwide firefighting mobilization order had been issued to combat a drought, after the first one in August last year for Gangneung.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 13, 2026 11:42 am KST

Soldiers from the 39th Infantry Division supply water to a farm in drought-hit Haman County, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Yonhap

Firefighting water tankers and military vehicles from across the nation were mobilized Thursday to supply water to South Gyeongsang Province as a deepening drought grips the nation's southeast.

Fire authorities deployed 200 water tankers and some 400 personnel nationwide to deliver water to the province under a national firefighting mobilization order issued Tuesday, according to the South Gyeongsang firefighting headquarters.

An additional 14 vehicles from the Army, Air Force, Navy and the forestry service joined the effort to supply water to farms and households across the drought-hit area.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, fire authorities had delivered nearly 4,770 tons of water to the province.

The situation has escalated as all 18 municipalities in South Gyeongsang officially entered drought stages Thursday. Hamyang County, which had been the sole unaffected area, was placed under a drought watch.

The average water storage rate of the province's 18 municipalities currently stands at 32.8 percent, far below the long-term average of 70.8 percent.

It marks the second time a nationwide firefighting mobilization order has been issued to combat a drought. It was first issued in August last year for the eastern coastal city of Gangneung.

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