Special taskforce to deal with snow emergencies during PyeongChang Olympics

SEJONG, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- An inter-agency taskforce will prepare contingency plans for heavy snow during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in cooperation with local city and provincial governments, officials said Friday. The taskforce, launched in March, has 17 government bodies and the PyeongChang Olympics organizing committee working together to be ready for any snow-related emergencies. PyeongChang lies in the eastern province of Gangwon, where heavy snow often occurs. Officials said snow removal capacity has been increased 130 percent compared to last year for the province's highways and national roads. The number of people available for snow removal on highways has also been increased from 336 to 436, while the number of necessary items of equipment is up from 360 to 462. For national roads, manpower was boosted from 459 to 515, and pieces of equipment from 636 to 899, officials said. The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be held Feb. 9-25. The taskforce will assist the city of PyeongChang and the province to better handle snow situations by providing the needed equipment. PyeongChang inner city roads amounting to 15.3 kilometers will be cared for by the Korea Expressway Corp. during the Olympics period. Three shifts will remain on standby to deal with snow emergencies, with help available from other cities and provinces if needed, officials said. (END)