Seoul: Authorities have issued a national firefighting mobilization order to address the severe drought affecting South Gyeongsang Province. The mobilization, initiated on Tuesday, involves deploying personnel and equipment from surrounding areas to assist the drought-stricken region.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Fire Agency implemented the order at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. As part of the response, 200 water tankers and 400 firefighters from neighboring cities and provinces will be dispatched to South Gyeongsang through Thursday to provide drought relief. This decision follows a directive from President Lee Jae Myung five days ago, calling for a full mobilization of resources to mitigate the impact of extreme heat and drought.

This marks the second instance of a firefighting mobilization being issued for drought conditions, following a similar order for the eastern city of Gangneung in August 2025. The ongoing drought has severely affected water reserves in the region.

The Agricultural Drought Management System (ADMS) reports that the average water reserve rate in South Gyeongsang is currently at 33.5 percent, the lowest in the country. Of the 18 cities and counties in the province, 17 are experiencing drought conditions, with three classified at a "critical" level, based on their water reserve rates.