Flood on Southern District and 30 Persons Died and Disappeared

The recovery work began for downstream restrict of the Nakdong River; Busan, Gyeongnam, etc after lifting a flood warning, heavy raining warning at 11th of August.

However, the localized torrential downpour resulted in 8 persons died, I disappeared, 30 wounded 2,500 suffers and 11 billion won of properties damages.

7:40 am of 10th, in Dalsan-ri, Chungkwan-myeon, Kijang-gun, Pusan, a social welfare facilities ‘Siloam House’ became damaged by a landslide, so 4 disable persons including Cho Soo-man(18) were buried and 7 disable persons including Ko Kyung-soo(15) were wounded.

At that day, because of torrential downpour, a slop of 20 meters height and 40 meters width collapsed with hundreds of tons of mud. The mud hit room 104 and 105 at ground floor of Siloam House where disable persons were sleeping in. The persons can’t move by themselves and suffered this disastrous accident.

Siloam House is operated by a social welfare foundation ‘Hyungjae Welfare Aid Foundation, The foundation sold its existing property in Jurye-dong, Sasnag-gu, Busan and has been constructing new facilities; 1 basement, 4 stories of 7,000 square meters building there since 1999.

However, the foundation moved 46 disabled persons without relations at 26th of May and locked them up in the facilities illegally. The facilities are before the completion inspection.

At the same day, about 10:30 am, Naesam Agricultural and Industrial site, Naesam-ri, Juchon-myun, Kimhae-city, Kyungnam, a slope collapsed and hit 9 units of manufacturers buildins including Samhung Heat Treatment, etc and buried 15 persons. 14 were rescued, but Lee Jung-hoon(28) is under disappear.

In Jangbang-ri Hanrim-myun, Kimhae-si, Hwapo Creek overflowed and hit 800 houses, and 1,700 suffers are staying a near primary school, and other place. Agricultural land of 3,291ha near the Nakdong River in Noksan-dong, Kangse-gu, Busan is flooded.

On other side, a part of flooded district became to flow off, and farmer began to set up rice plant fell down and other recovery work from 11th.

Busan city, Gyeongnam mobilized 5,000 of public officers, soldiers, policemen, etc with heavy duty equipments to recovery works and most of damaged roads has been recovered.

silent@donga.com jrjung@donga.com