Inspection of Underpass and Miho River Site of July Disaster
Miho River Maintenance Project to Expand River Width Underway
Minister of the Interior and Safety Sang-min Lee and Minister of Environment Hwa-jin Han visited the restoration site of the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass, where the 'Osong Disaster' occurred last summer, and the Miho River maintenance site in Cheongju to conduct an on-site inspection.
On the 10th, Ministers Lee and Han visited the Miho River maintenance site, received a report on the project progress from officials of the Geumgang River Basin Environmental Office, and checked flood control measures for the summer season. Previously, in July last year, heavy rain caused the temporary embankment of the Miho River to break, flooding the nearby Gungpyeong 2 Underpass and resulting in 24 casualties in the 'Osong Disaster.'
The Miho River maintenance project aims to reduce the bottleneck at the confluence of the Miho River and Byeongcheon Stream by expanding the river width from 350m to 610m. Through this project, the expected maximum water level during floods is lowered by up to 0.67m, reducing the risk of flooding to nearby houses and farmland. Additionally, this summer, flood damage will be prevented by maintaining a 'double embankment' system, which includes both newly constructed and existing embankments.
Ministers Lee and Han also visited the disaster restoration site of the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass. The government and local authorities replaced pump facilities damaged by flooding, and reinstalled electrical and communication facilities such as distribution boards, which were previously submerged due to low installation height, at a higher elevation (1.7m) above the flood level. Furthermore, they reinforced entry blocking facilities, electronic signboards and sirens guiding entry restrictions, and emergency evacuation facilities to prevent recurrence of damage.
The government is also implementing measures to prevent casualties caused by underpass flooding. New standards have been established requiring management authorities to immediately control underpasses when flooding exceeds 15 cm or when there is a risk of nearby river overflow. The number of underpasses targeted for entry blocking facility installation has been expanded to 431 locations, with installation expected to be completed at 285 of these sites by the end of this year.
Minister Lee stated, "It is most important that the measures prepared by the government operate effectively on the ground. We will respond with full force together with related agencies and local governments to prevent any tragic loss of life."
Minister Han said, "As the frequency and intensity of heavy summer rains increase due to climate change, the importance of river safety measures is growing. During this year’s flood season, we will collaborate more closely with related agencies to actively protect the lives and property of the people from flood damage."
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