Yecheon-gun Residents "A Landslide Again Would Be a Big Problem"
Typhoon Approaching, Gyeongnam Tongyeong Also Enters Alert State
On the morning of the 10th, Typhoon Khanun, the 6th typhoon to make landfall on the Korean Peninsula, raised concerns that it could cause additional damage to Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk, where a landslide occurred due to heavy rain last month, prompting busy preparations for potential damage. Fishermen along the southern coast also spent a busy schedule inspecting vessels and other facilities.
Jin Bong-sik, a resident of Jinpyeong-ri, Gamcheon-myeon, Yecheon-gun, said, "Last night, there was only a little rain and nothing serious, but now the rain has started again," adding, "I am worried that if the rain and wind hit hard, more damage might occur."
Yecheon-gun suffered casualties from heavy rain on the 15th of last month, with 15 people dead and 2 missing. Damage to public facilities such as roads, rivers, and water supply and sewage systems was also severe, and restoration work is still ongoing.
Jin appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" on the same day and said, "(Since the landslide occurred) there has been 20 days, so a lot of restoration has been done, and the situation is safer than when it first happened," but added, "If another landslide occurs, it will be a big problem. Last time, the water flow was more than 40 to 50 times the usual amount." He continued, "Since people have experienced it once, they are more worried."
He also said, "We keep getting calls to evacuate," adding, "No one is evacuating immediately yet, and residents are all watching from their homes."
On the morning of the 10th, a citizen holding an umbrella is walking around Gangguan in Tongyeong-si, Gyeongnam. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Fishermen in Tongyeong-si, Gyeongnam, located along Khanun's northward path, have also entered a state of tension. Lee Gi-sam, who works in purse seine fishing in Tongyeong-si, said, "I am currently on a vessel at Tongyeong Port," and added, "When the typhoon comes, we evacuate to a safe place, but to maintain spacing between boats, we stay on the vessels."
Lee explained, "The rain is coming down so heavily that visibility is poor," and "As the typhoon gets closer, the wind speed is increasing and the rain is pouring heavily."
In response to the host's advice to prioritize safety, Lee said, "We should avoid it, but if too many boats are docked, there is some drifting, so to prevent drifting, one person stays on each boat," and added, "Since it is daylight now, I think it's okay to go down."
He continued, "Tongyeong city officials have been continuously evacuating people to safe places and thoroughly securing vessels while going around the ports and harbors for several days," and said, "I understand that all the boats in relatively small ports and harbors are safe."
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