More than Half of Over 6,000 Local Tourists Are Koreans
As of the 28th (local time), with about 3,200 Koreans stranded in Guam due to the "super typhoon," the Guam Visitors Bureau announced that it is working to restore water and electricity facilities at hotels and other accommodations.
In a press release issued that morning, the Guam Visitors Bureau stated, "In cooperation with the Guam Waterworks Authority and the Guam Power Authority, restoration work is underway to supply water and electricity to hotels currently relying on limited resources due to power outages." It also announced that, to support the Korean visitors who make up more than half of the local tourists, it has partnered with the Korean diplomatic mission in Guam (the Juhaganya branch office) to provide transportation for visits to emergency medical facilities.
On the 25th, Korean tourists who could not enter their rooms due to Typhoon Mawar gathered in the banquet hall of a hotel in Guam. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Guam Visitors Bureau explained, "It is estimated that about 5,000 to 6,000 visitors, excluding military personnel, are currently stranded on the island, of whom approximately 3,200 are Korean visitors." It added, "We are supporting visitors affected by the typhoon through the visitor concierge program" and provided a hotline number with Korean language service.
Korean tourists have been stranded locally and facing difficulties for several days since the Category 4 "super typhoon" Mawar struck Guam on the 24th and 25th. They have expressed distress over power and water outages at hotels, making it difficult to properly wash, and some are reportedly anxious due to running out of essential medications such as diabetes and blood pressure medicine.
Our government has secured two temporary shelters to ensure the health and safety of citizens whose return journeys have been blocked. From today, temporary clinics will be operated. The shelters are set up at a local Korean church where water and electricity facilities have been restored, and food and water supplies have been provided with the help of the Korean community.
Korean doctors will provide medical consultations at the temporary clinics for two days. Through the operation of these clinics, issues related to medical treatment and prescription of medications for travelers with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are expected to be partially resolved.
On the 25th (local time), Super Typhoon Mawar, a Category 4 storm, struck the U.S. territory of Guam in the Pacific, causing trees to be broken by strong winds and fall onto the streets. Guam authorities reported no casualties from the typhoon, but power and water outages caused by the strong winds and heavy rain have led to significant difficulties for both locals and tourists. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Guam Visitors Bureau added that fuel supply has begun to major gasoline, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vendors on the island, and this information has been communicated to the hotel industry. The Guam government also posted a list of gas stations by region where refueling is possible on its website that day.
However, it remains uncertain when the closed airport will reopen. Guam International Airport announced on the 26th that operations might resume as early as the 30th but has not provided any further updates since then.
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