▲ This photo, taken Aug. 10, 2026, shows a reservoir in Changnyeong County in the drought-hit South Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- Authorities issued a national firefighting mobilization order for the drought-stricken South Gyeongsang on Tuesday, with personnel and equipment from surrounding areas to be sent to the province.

The National Fire Agency said the order was issued at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and 200 water tankers and 400 firefighters from neighboring cities and provinces will be dispatched to South Gyeongang for drought relief through Thursday.

The decision came five days after President Lee Jae Myung ordered a full mobilization of resources to minimize damage from extreme heat and drought.

This is the second time that a firefighting mobilization has been issued for drought, following the one for the eastern city of Gangneung in August 2025.

According to the Agricultural Drought Management System (ADMS), the average water reserve rate in South Gyeongsang as of Tuesday came to 33.5 percent, the lowest in the country.

Of the 18 cities and counties in the province, 17 have entered the state of drought, based on their water reserve rates, according to the ADMS, including three at a "critical" level.

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