[Editorial] After the Typhoon

Typhoon Maemi ripped through the southern part of the country during the Chuseok holiday, killing and injuring people and causing property damage. Rice and diary farmers, who were already worried about the lack of sunny days, are now dumbfounded to see the havoc wreaked by the typhoon – flooded rice fields, destroyed farms and fallen fruit. We just do not know how to console those farmers who now have few things to lose.

Fishing houses along the South Sea were also hit hard by the typhoon. Having fought hard against the reddening of the sea, they now face yet another disaster. The damage was an inevitable work of nature. But, what happened in Masan City in South Gyeongsang Province is seen as manmade disaster.

While the other areas evacuated residents by issuing typhoon warning in time, dozens of people are now feared trapped in the flooded basement of a building since they were unaware of the typhoon was coming. Officials at anti-disaster headquarters and the police agency in Masan must be held accountable for the fatal accident.

Unlike other typhoons that have visited the country, Maemi caused damage on businesses by cutting off power lines. A nuclear power plant supposed to endure a powerful earthquake stopped operations. Investigators must look into this case so as to prevent a similar thing from happening again. The government must also craft due measures to help small and medium firms and petroleum and chemical companies hit hard by the typhoon.

Maemi also lashed container ports in Busan that have just restored to normal operations after the freight workers` strike. 6 out of 7 container cranes in Shingamman Wharf collapsed due to high swells, disrupting port operations. It will take about a year to build new cranes, they say. Unless the government comes up with an emergency plan, it could thwart the country`s exports, therefore. The government, the military and civilians must make concerted efforts for clean-ups and restoration.