Villages Facing Widespread Devastation

A chopper run by Gyunggi-do Fire Services Department left for remote villages in Gangnueng City, 99 miles east of Seoul, at about 2 p.m. on September 7, carrying emergency supplies such as rice, kimchi, fried noodles and bottled water. And aboard the chopper, we could see the extensive damage done by Typhoon Rusa.

There were no houses left intact in Shinsuk-dong, instead collapsed dikes and mud-covered houses and roads were seen throughout the village. A stream, which used to run in “S” shape, was now taking I shape as dumbfounded residents glared at their farmlands that have turned into waterways. With the chopper gaining altitude, we could see the entire landscape of farmlands on which new waterways were created and rocks and tones left dents everywhere.

When the chopper landed beside the road leading to the village, 6 residents rushed to meet the visitors. While the pilot tightened the wheels of the charger on the pebbles, I shouted at one of the residents amid the noise when was the last time he saw visitors from the outside. Then he extended out eight of his fingers. When the chopper took off after unloading supplies, they waved at us displaying their feelings of gratitude.

Then we headed northward to a village located near Jungdongjin Station in Gangdong-myeon. Residents who earlier fled rising waters were seen nowhere near houses. Only a group of young soldiers were pulling five pigs out of a house where they were stuck after flooding.

A salt field near Anin Station was also submerged under water, indicating the magnitude of the flooding of Geumgwang Valley. Flying up northward, we found Nanghangjin Bridge leading to Gangneung Airport completely damaged. A water pipe installed on the side was broken into pieces, and isolated residents were crossing the river on a rubber boat.

Garbage was piled up in downtown Noam, another storm-hit area, as the road leading to a dumping site remained cut off. When we got off the chopper in Sungnam-dong and went into allies lined with restaurants, we found quite a few flood victims who gave up restoring whatever left and drank Soju out of desperation. Restaurant owners said that pubs throughout the city were crowded with flood victims who have lost all the hopes.

Experts say that victims can grow more aggressive under mounting stress, developing what they call a trauma syndrome. “Now flood victims are mostly suffering from insomnia and depression, but they could display ‘aggressiveness’ as their frustration grows,” said a psychiatrist running a clinic in downtown Gangneung.

Wi-Yong Jung viyonz@donga.com