Firefighter Responds to Flood Site, Finds 5.4 Million Won Cash Bundle

426.4 mm of Rainfall in a Single Day
Concerns Grow Over Additional Damage Due to Cumulative Precipitation

In Gwangju Metropolitan City, where an extreme rainfall of over 430 mm was recorded, a firefighter who was dispatched to a flood site discovered an envelope containing 5.4 million won in cash, which is believed to have been lost, and handed it over to the police. On the 18th, the Gwangju Bukbu Fire Station reported that at around 12:30 PM on the 17th, a rescue team was dispatched after receiving a report of a flooded vehicle on the road in front of the main gate of Chonnam National University in Jungheung-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju.

Around 12:30 PM on the 17th, Park Sunhong, a fire lieutenant, discovered a lost cash envelope while draining a flooded vehicle on the road in front of the main gate of Chonnam National University in Jungheung-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. Gwangju Bukbu Fire Station

Park Sunhong, a fire lieutenant who arrived at the scene, found a wet white envelope on the roadside while clearing storm drains and carrying out safety measures. Inside the envelope was 5.4 million won in cash. The name of a company was written on the outside of the envelope. Lieutenant Park judged it to be a lost item washed away by the heavy rain, immediately reported it to the situation room, and handed the cash envelope over to the Bukbu Police Station. The police are working to identify the owner based on the company name written on the envelope. A fire department official stated, "At the time, soil and debris had accumulated in the nearby drainage channels, so we were conducting cleanup operations. We found the envelope that had been swept away by the rain and immediately took steps to hand it over."

Meanwhile, Gwangju experienced an extreme rainfall of 426.4 mm in a single day on the previous day. This is the highest recorded daily precipitation for July since weather observations began. As of 7:00 AM on the same day, disaster authorities had received 288 reports of flood damage to homes, stores, and roads in Gwangju. As the rain stops and the tally continues, the number of damage reports is expected to increase rapidly. Although the weather briefly cleared in Gwangju in the morning, rain is forecast to return in the afternoon, and additional damage from cumulative rainfall is also expected.

In the meantime, local governments have begun on-site investigations based on reports from residents and institutions. For natural disasters, damage investigations must be completed within 10 days for private property and within 7 days for public facilities. Local government officials calculate the amount of damage according to the investigation manual and enter the information into the National Disaster Safety Management System. Residents who have suffered property damage can receive partial financial support for the amount of damage. Gwangju City is operating a Level 3 emergency work system, with one-third of all employees on duty, and is providing real-time updates on weather conditions and safety guidelines, working 24 hours a day in cooperation with the five district governments.