85 Deaths and Disappearances from Landslides Over the Past Decade

A total of 85 people have died or gone missing due to landslides over the past decade, data shows.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on July 3, there were 199 casualties from storm and flood damage during the 10-year period from 2016 to last year.

By type of disaster, landslides accounted for the largest share at 85 people, or 42.7 percent, followed by river-related disasters with 64 people (32.2 percent) and flooding in underground spaces with 37 people (18.6 percent).

In addition, there were 9 casualties from strong winds, 3 from disappearances, and 1 from electric shock.

To manage landslides, which have caused the highest number of casualties, the government designates landslide-prone areas every year.

This year, 34,070 on-site inspections were conducted across 34,072 vulnerable areas, achieving a maintenance completion rate of 99.9 percent.

Among the 154 locations identified as requiring facility repairs or reinforcement, measures have been completed at 153, with work on the remaining one scheduled to be finished within this month.

Along with these efforts, the government has been implementing preventive measures, such as conducting evacuation drills for residents in landslide-prone areas 819 times.

President Lee Jae-myung said during a meeting of senior secretaries yesterday, "As many local governments have seen changes in leadership, there is a risk of negligence in responding to emergency situations, so special attention must be paid." He ordered preemptive inspections of landslide-prone areas, semi-basement housing, aging facilities, and construction sites.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung also emphasized on X (formerly Twitter), "We will manage landslides, rivers, and underground spaces, where storm and flood casualties are concentrated, more thoroughly," adding, "There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to protecting the lives and safety of the public."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.