Garbage Balloon Fallen on Residential Roof, Fire Truck Access Blocked by Narrow Alley; Immediate Response by District Office Staff Prompted by Neighbor's Report... Using District Office Streetlight Maintenance Vehicle to Collect and Dispose of Garbage Balloon on Roof
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) received high praise from residents for its proactive administration that swiftly responded using a ladder truck to remove a North Korean filth balloon that had fallen on a roof, ensuring the safety of residents and preventing secondary damage.
This year, North Korea has sent 'filth balloons' to South Korea dozens of times, causing various damages nationwide such as flight suspensions at Incheon Airport, wildfires, and damage to vehicles and glass.
In particular, when the filth balloons fall, they can block drainage pipes or gutters during rainfall, raising concerns about worsening flood damage.
Filth balloons from North Korea have also been found in various parts of Yeongdeungpo-gu. Among these, in October, a filth balloon fell on the roof of a villa located in a narrow alley in Singil-dong.
When a filth balloon is discovered, it should be reported to the nearest military unit or police for collection. However, the area around the villa was a narrow alley densely packed with multi-family houses, making it difficult for fire trucks to access.
At this time, a neighboring resident living next to the villa (Mr. Yoo Chung-kyu, 78) requested help from the district office. Recalling the situation, Mr. Yoo said, “The filth balloon that fell on the roof of the adjacent villa had burst and was scattered around, with some debris falling along the building’s exterior wall onto the ground, blocking the gutter. However, due to the narrow alley, vehicle access was difficult, so handling the filth balloon did not seem easy.”
Upon hearing this, the Urban Safety Division staff immediately dispatched a team to the site, as it was a matter directly related to residents’ safety. The site was a narrow alley, so a small ladder truck capable of entering and reaching the rooftop was needed.
Accordingly, the district utilized a ladder truck normally used for streetlight maintenance to collect the filth balloon and debris from the roof.
The villa owner expressed gratitude, saying that thanks to this, the building’s exterior wall became clean and the surrounding debris was completely removed. A district official commented, “We just did what was naturally required,” adding, “Thanks to neighbors who pay attention to the small and large matters of the community, we were able to respond quickly.”
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “It is natural for local governments to take the lead in improving residents’ convenience and resolving inconveniences. As the administrative services residents need become more diverse and complex, employees must adopt a proactive attitude,” and added, “We will continue to faithfully perform the fundamental role of local governments to provide administration that residents can feel and empathize with.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
