Went to Move Vehicle in Underground Parking Lot and Suffered Assault
"You Have to Survive"
15-Year-Old Son Found Dead Ultimately
On the 6th, due to heavy rain from Typhoon Hin Nam No, fire and military personnel are rescuing missing residents in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] "Mom, thank you for raising me all this time."
This was the last message left by A (15), who was trapped and unable to escape due to flooding in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Indeok-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, directed at his mother. Afterwards, A was found dead, unable to get out of the parking lot.
According to reports from Kukmin Ilbo and others on the 7th, A went to the underground parking lot with his sick mother to help her when the parking lot was flooded by heavy rain caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor the previous day, but did not return. The mother, Ms. Kim, is said to have had chronic shoulder problems.
Ms. Kim was rescued conscious about 14 hours after the missing person report and was transferred to a hospital. She survived by holding on in an "air pocket" above a pipe installed 30cm below the parking lot ceiling. She was the last survivor among the nine missing residents.
According to A’s father, A and his mother got into the car in the underground parking lot to move the vehicle, but they could not get out due to the rapidly rising water. Eventually, A opened the car door from outside and helped his mother out.
In the urgent situation, sensing the danger, the mother said, "At least you must live," and sent her son away. She was worried that her shoulder condition and inability to swim would be a burden to others.
As if realizing something was wrong, A greeted his mother by saying, "Thank you for raising me," before disappearing. Around 12:35 a.m. on the 7th, A was found dead.
The bereaved family has reportedly not yet informed Ms. Kim of her son's fate.
A’s father was reported to have tearfully said, "My wife is in a very unstable mental state and is having a very hard time."
The previous morning, residents who were trying to move vehicles in the apartment’s underground parking lot to a safe place to prevent flooding were suddenly trapped by the rapidly rising water and lost contact. Seven people died in the accident.
The fire authorities stated that most of the deceased, including A, were found near the entrance passage.
The mourning hall for the victims has been set up at Pohang Medical Center. The hall is currently filled with the grief of the bereaved families and relatives who lost their loved ones overnight, evoking deep sympathy from those around.
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