Trapped and Unable to Escape: Reporter Tests Door That "Won't Open" in Flood Conditions

Four years ago, when Typhoon Hinnamnor struck, a river overflowed, flooding the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and claiming seven lives.

The victims were residents who had gone to move their vehicles after hearing news of the flooding.

That same summer, in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, a woman in her 40s, her sister, and her teenage daughter were unable to escape their semi-basement home and perished.

Over the past decade, approximately 20 percent of deaths and disappearances caused by storm and flood damage have been attributed to flooding in underground spaces.

[Interview: Kong Ha-sung, Professor of Fire and Disaster Prevention, Woosuk University: People try to evacuate through the path where the water is coming in, but that is exactly where the water is rushing in with great force.]

Our reporting team directly experienced a simulated flooding situation.

The water is about 50cm deep, reaching my knees.

No matter how much force I apply, the door will not open.

Even when an adult male pushes against it, the door only budges slightly but refuses to open.

[Interview: Kim Hak-soo, Team Leader of the Urban Flood Experiment Team at the National Disaster Management Research Institute: Even with just 50cm of water, it has an effect similar to having a 110kg boulder pressing against the outside of the door. The door becomes so heavy that it cannot be opened.]

Because it becomes impossible to open a closed door and escape once water reaches knee height for an adult, experts advise that one must evacuate immediately at the first sign of rising water.

When climbing stairs where muddy water is pouring in, you must hold onto the handrails tightly with both hands.

It is better to be barefoot than to wear boots, which make it difficult to lift your feet as water continues to flow in, or dress shoes, which can cause you to slip.

[Interview: Choi Yeon-woo, Operations Team Leader at the Boramae Safety Experience Center: Since you usually cannot see the floor of the stairs due to sediment, lifting your feet too high can cause you to fall backward due to water pressure. You should keep your feet as close to the floor as possible.]

In underground parking lots and underpasses, it is best to abandon your vehicle once water begins to rise.

Even if the water only reaches half the height of the tires, there is a risk of being trapped inside the vehicle due to water pressure.

If evacuation is delayed and you are trapped inside a vehicle, you should open or break the windows, and in the case of an SUV, open the trunk to secure an escape route.

Reported by Dong Eun-young | Written by Kim Da-yeon | Video by Kim Seung-tae | Video Editing by Kim Jong-tae | Graphics by Jang Chae-woo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.