At Least 6 Dead Today Due to Heavy Rain... 919 Disaster Victims Reported

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] At least six people died in a single day on the 3rd due to heavy rain that has continued for three days in the Seoul metropolitan area and central regions. About 900 residents became disaster victims due to house flooding and landslides, and approximately 2,300 hectares of farmland suffered damage such as flooding and burial.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), as of 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd, casualties from the heavy rain from the 1st to the 3rd were tentatively counted as 9 dead and 13 missing.

This figure includes the six deaths recorded over the two days from the 1st to the 2nd, plus three additional deaths from a landslide burying a factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on the same day.

Including the three presumed deaths from the pension burial accident in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, which have not yet been reflected in the CDSCH tally, the minimum number of deaths on the 3rd alone is six. The total deaths over the three days rise to 12.

The number of missing persons was eight until the previous day, but five more were added, including a man in his 50s who went missing while working in a manhole in Tangjeong-myeon, Asan City, Chungnam Province. Including the missing persons from the Gapyeong pension burial accident, which have not yet been reflected, the number is even higher.

The number of disaster victims increased from the 800s in the morning to 919 people in 591 households by the afternoon. By region, there are 523 in Chungbuk, 353 in Gyeonggi, and 43 in Gangwon.

Among them, 175 people in 89 households have returned home, but 744 people in 502 households are still staying at relatives' homes, gymnasiums, senior centers, and village halls.

The number of temporarily evacuated people was counted at 1,712. The Gyeonggi area had the highest number with 1,321, followed by 342 in Chungbuk and 49 in Gangwon.

Facility damage reports totaled 1,747 over the three days. Private facility damage accounted for 875 cases, and public facility damage was 872 cases.

Damage to houses due to flooding or soil outflow was 356 cases, with 373 cases of damage to livestock barns and warehouses, and 146 cases involving vinyl greenhouses. The damaged farmland area was identified as 2,329 hectares, including 1,720 hectares flooded, 480 hectares of lodged rice plants, 62 hectares of fallen fruit, and 67 hectares buried.

Damage to public facilities such as collapse, breakage, and flooding included 527 cases of roads and bridges, 182 cases related to railroads, 126 landslides, 30 river incidents, and 7 reservoirs.

Among the 1,747 facility damage cases, emergency repairs have been completed for 1,094 cases, accounting for 62.6%. Emergency repairs were completed at 17 railroad sites including the Yeongdong Line, 3 reservoirs, and 7 roads. The emergency repair efforts involved 21,718 personnel including public officials, firefighters, police officers, and volunteers, as well as 1,276 pieces of equipment such as dump trucks and pumps.

Road and railroad controls have also expanded. Fifty-four roads have been closed in Seoul, Chungbuk, and Gyeonggi, and six railroad lines including the Chungbuk Line, Taebaek Line, Jungang Line, Yeongdong Line, Gyeonggang Line, and Hambak Line are not operating.

Additionally, 252 hiking trails in 10 national parks including Bukhansan, Taebaeksan, and Songnisan, 16 frequently flooded underground passages in Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk regions, and 85 riverside parking lots in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungbuk are also under control.

Rescue and evacuation efforts by fire authorities have saved a total of 1,110 people over the three days. The fire department carried out 1,597 safety measures including clearing houses and roads, and provided 726 cases of water supply and drainage support.