Rusa Wreaks Havoc on Korea

Typhoon Rusa, the 15th of its kind this season ripped through the entire nation over the weekend, causing huge damage all across the nation except for Seoul and the metropolitan area.

In particular, a record high 898 mm of rain fell in Gangreung, Gangweon Province, inundating the whole city. Rusa left more than 80 people dead or missing.

Authorities said that 26 were feared dead, 14 missing as of 4 pm yesterday. But the number of casualties is expected to soar after the damage toll is updated every hour.

Rusa flooded about 10 streams and reservoirs and washed away a number of embankments across the nation. About 40,000 people were evacuated in Gangreung and Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk Province. Also land, sea and air transportation has briefly stopped because of bad weather condition and destroyed railroads and roads.

667,000 households nationwide could not be provided electricity owing to strong wind and landslide. Mobile phone service was broken off in Gangreung and Jeju Island as 424 base stations were destroyed by the storm.

The flood warning has been issued once again in the surrounding area of River Nakdong. The levels of water in Susan and Jindong points were 9.50m and 10.65m respectively as of 3 pm yesterday, exceeding the dangerous water level of 9m and 10.50m.

According to the authorities, as of 4 pm yesterday, 27,000 people were dislocated and 17,000 buildings and 5,100ha of farming land were swamped.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said that Rusa would pass through the nation and lose its strength on the 2nd to become extratropical cyclone. Thus, the nation is expected to become cloudy under the influence of high pressure on the 2nd. But 5 to 20mm of rain is still expected in the Yeongdong region.

As of 3 pm yesterday, 898mm of rains dumped in Gangreung, setting the new record, followed by 760mm in Daegwanryeong, 336mm in Donghae, 291mm in Geoje, 146.5mm in Gwangju, 127.6 in Busan and 56m in Seoul.

Meanwhile the government decided to mobilize every human resource and equipment possible for restoration work and to provide a variety of relief measure for those hit hard from the storm.

sys1201@donga.com