Facilities Damaged at 270 Schools Nationwide Due to Heavy Rain... One Elementary Student Dead

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Due to the heavy rain that fell in the first week of August in the metropolitan area and the central and southern regions, one elementary school student died, and facility damage occurred at 270 schools nationwide.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Education held a situation check meeting of the Central Accident Response Headquarters within the ministry, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, to assess the damage to students and schools caused by the heavy rain up to that day.

The Ministry of Education reported that one student casualty occurred the previous day in Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do. An 8-year-old boy, A, was swept away by the swollen water in a stream in Bongsan-myeon, Damyang-gun, and was found dead. Facility damage to schools, such as retaining wall and embankment collapses and flooding, occurred at 270 schools in 11 regions nationwide. The Ministry added that it is continuously checking for additional facility damage.

With heavy rain forecasted again this week and Typhoon No. 5 "Jangmi" expected to move northward, the Ministry of Education sent official letters to kindergartens, elementary, middle, and special schools in areas under heavy rain warnings, recommending a switch to remote classes. It also urged thorough inspections of disaster-vulnerable facilities in regions where heavy rain is expected.

Furthermore, emergency recovery will be supported through insurance benefits and special disaster safety management grants distributed via the Educational Facilities Disaster Mutual Aid Association. The Central Accident Response Headquarters will operate until the heavy rain situation ends to continuously monitor damage at school sites. In case of accidents, on-site investigation teams will be dispatched to support emergency recovery.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stated, "Rapid and proactive measures are necessary to minimize damage to schools and their members," and added, "The Ministry of Education and metropolitan and provincial offices of education will operate a 24-hour hotline system to actively support school sites."