Hinamnno Accompanied by Heavy Rain... Concerns Over Sudden Increase in 'Potholes'
The occurrence of potholes, known as "road mines," on the road./Photo by Busan Police Agency, Yonhap News Agency provided
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Amid flooding and power outages caused by Typhoon No. 11 'Hinnamnor,' which brought heavy rain, concerns over potholes?referred to as "road bombs"?are growing.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Fire and Disaster Headquarters, 424 potholes caused by Hinnamnor were reported from the previous day until 8 a.m. on the 6th, and all have since been repaired.
Potholes are depressions that form on roads, usually caused when rainwater seeps into asphalt and pressure from vehicle traffic causes the surface to collapse. They pose a significant threat to drivers, especially in conditions with poor visibility such as rainy or nighttime driving, as vehicles can fall into potholes leading to rollover accidents. Sudden steering to avoid potholes can also cause collisions with adjacent vehicles.
After the "record-breaking heavy rain" in August, the number of potholes surged. On the 11th, a commuter bus wheel fell into a pothole about 1 meter in diameter in Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. On the Jungbu Expressway between the Seo-Cheongju Interchange and Namyi Junction heading toward Daejeon, multiple potholes over 30 cm in diameter caused damage to the tires of about 20 vehicles.
Potholes frequently occur during the monsoon season. According to statistics released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 12th of last month, there were 1,019 road potholes and 12 cases of ground subsidence.
Since 'Hinnamnor' brought heavy rain, an increase in pothole occurrences is expected. Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province, which was directly affected, experienced rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour. Additionally, 168.5 mm fell in Idong-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, and 154 mm and 152 mm fell in Gangnam-gu and Gangdong-gu, Seoul, respectively.
Experts advise reducing driving speed after heavy rain. Even if a pothole is spotted, sudden lane changes or abrupt stops should be avoided to prevent secondary accidents. If a pothole is found on the road, it can be reported using the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'Cheokcheok Solution Service' app.
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