[Anchor]
Record-breaking torrential rains have brought daily life to a halt. Twenty-one schools in Geoje have suspended classes, and even the postponement of the new semester is under consideration. Merchants are working hard on recovery efforts, but it remains uncertain when they will be able to return to their normal lives.
Next, we have a report by Ok Min-ji from KNN.
[Reporter]
An elementary school cafeteria is covered in muddy water.
No matter how much they wipe, there is no end in sight.
Due to the pouring rain, the school's playground, cafeteria, and attached kindergarten were all submerged.
I am currently standing on the athletic field of a school that suffered flood damage. As you can see, the field is entirely covered in mud, and flood-damaged school supplies are piled up like this.
Due to this heavy rain, damage has been reported at 53 schools in South Gyeongsang Province.
Twenty-one elementary, middle, and high schools in Geoje had to close.
[Jung Yoon-hee / Okpo-dong, Geoje: I was hoping we could return home within today, but school has been pushed back by about a day. (Even if school starts), transportation issues are likely to arise, and time seems insufficient.]
Coming right at the start of the new semester, this has caused major disruptions to academic operations.
The postponement of the semester is also being considered.
The Gohyeon-dong area, the center of Geoje's commercial district, has turned into chaos.
Stores were submerged, leaving most of their merchandise unsellable.
[Shoe Store Merchant: (Shoes) are wet by about 70 to 80 percent, so even though I am trying to salvage whatever wasn't soaked in water, I think the (damage) will amount to around 340 to 350 million won.]
It looks like they will have to shut down their businesses.
Electronic appliances necessary for business, such as refrigerators and fryers, have all been broken.
[Restaurant Merchant: The refrigerator doesn't work, and the fryer and dishwasher are all broken too, so we can't operate. I don't know if we'll even be able to open tomorrow or the day after. It's devastating.]
Emergency funds and relief supplies are arriving, but they are far from enough.
South Gyeongsang Province has requested that Geoje and Tongyeong, which suffered severe damage, be declared as special disaster zones.
Amidst the massive damage, prompt support measures for the residents are urgently needed.
(Video by: Park Young-joon, Kim Tae-yong / KNN)
Ok Min-ji, KNN
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.