Gangneung: All-out efforts have been under way Sunday to supply water to the drought-hit eastern coastal city of Gangneung, officials said, as it struggles with worsening water shortages.

According to Yonhap News Agency, helicopters, fire trucks, and a Navy vessel were set to be dispatched to supply 29,793 tons of water to Obong Reservoir, the city's main water source, and the Hongje water purification plant for the day. This coordinated effort involves both city and Gangwon Province officials.

The government declared Gangneung's drought a state of disaster on August 30 after the water storage level of the reservoir, which supplies household water to 180,000 Gangneung residents, fell to a record low of 15.7 percent. Despite ongoing efforts to replenish the supply, the reservoir's water levels have continued to decline, reaching 12.6 percent as of 11 a.m. Sunday, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the previous day.

Officials reported that around 400 military vehicles, two Coast Guard and Navy vessels, five Army helicopters, and dozens of other civilian equipment will be deployed on Sunday as part of the water supply efforts for the city.

On Saturday, the city began limiting water supply to major users operating water tanks of over 100 tons, affecting 113 residential complexes with approximately 45,000 households and 10 large-scale accommodation facilities. The city plans to deliver water using water trucks once these water tanks are depleted.

If the reservoir's water level falls below 10 percent, Gangneung city plans to implement further water conservation measures for the Hongje plant, which serves 53,483 water meters. The first stage of the plan includes restricting water from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., with every other day restrictions in the subsequent stage.