Identity of Last Missing Person from Gapyeong Flood Confirmed... Returned to Family After 23 Days

Fire Authorities Pledge Support Until Full Recovery
A Total of 11,689 Personnel and 1,785 Vehicles Deployed
All-Out Mobilization of Resources and Manpower from Five Provinces and Cities

The last missing person due to the heavy rain in Gapyeong has been identified and returned to their family.

Scene of the search for missing persons due to heavy rain in Gapyeong County. Provided by Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Headquarters

According to the Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Headquarters on August 11, the identity of a man in his 50s, referred to as Mr. A, was confirmed at around 4:50 p.m. It had been 23 days since the heavy rainfall occurred.

Previously, on August 9, the fire authorities discovered a body believed to be Mr. A on the banks of the Bukhan River in Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong County. They proceeded with the identification process and confirmed the identity on this day.

The fire authorities have been conducting a large-scale search for missing persons since the heavy rain hit Gapyeong County on July 20.

At that time, rainfall reached up to 76mm per hour, resulting in seven deaths in Gapyeong County alone.

In response to the large-scale landslides and flood damage caused by the torrential rain in the Gapyeong area on July 20, the Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Headquarters carried out search operations for 23 days until August 11.

On the first day, they found one missing person (deceased) from the Mailli campsite near Daebo Bridge. The next day, they found another missing person (deceased) in Jerong-ri. On the fourth day, they discovered a missing person (deceased) in the Daebo-ri and Deokhyeon-ri section. On the fifth and twelfth days, they located missing persons at the Deokhyeon-ri confluence.

Kang Daehoon, head of the Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "The three-dimensional search expanded to the main stream of the Bukhan River, bold mobilization of resources, and close cooperation with related agencies all led to the discovery of the last missing person. The fire authorities did what was necessary until the end, and we are relieved to be able to return the missing person to their family. We will continue to ensure on-site safety and support for residents until the recovery phase is complete."