Mudslides Amid Heavy Rain: Underpasses Still Under Construction

[Anchor]

It has been three years since the Osong tragedy, where 14 people died and 16 were injured after an underpass was flooded. Following the accident, the government made it mandatory to install vehicle access control systems in underpasses at risk of flooding, but more than 50 locations have yet to be equipped with them.

Reporter Hong Seung-yeon has the story.

[Reporter]

On the 8th, when heavy rain warnings were in effect, workers were busy clearing away water and mud.

Over 180mm of rain fell over two days on the 8th and 9th, causing mud and soil to pour into the entrance of the underpass.

Since April 2024, following the Osong tragedy, the installation of barriers to prevent vehicles from entering during emergencies has been mandatory at this location. However, police and local government officials had to step in personally to block vehicle access.

A sign labeled "Vehicle Access Control System" stands at the entrance of the underpass.

However, as construction is still underway, the barrier system remains non-functional even when it rains.

The situation is the same at another nearby underpass.

Although it is classified as an underpass at risk of flooding, the barrier system is still under construction.

It has been confirmed that out of 564 underpasses nationwide classified as at risk of flooding—where the installation of access control systems is mandatory due to their proximity to rivers or low-lying structures—52 have yet to complete the installation.

In 29 of these locations, water level sensors that detect flooding are not connected to the access control systems, meaning on-site personnel must manually check the situation and operate the barriers themselves.

Ultimately, the issue lies in securing and allocating budgets.

[Gong Ha-sung / Professor of Fire and Disaster Prevention, Woosuk University: It is desirable for local governments to prioritize the allocation and execution of safety budgets. The central government needs to more thoroughly monitor and supervise the safety sectors of local governments.]

Today, the North Chungcheong Provincial Office held a memorial service for the third anniversary of the tragedy, bringing together government officials, bereaved families, and survivors for the first time.

The bereaved families and survivors stated that what is needed after the Osong tragedy is not merely simple measures to prevent recurrence, but a fundamental change in administration and systems to prevent disasters and tragedies.

Reported by Kim Min-chul | Video by Jang Hyun-ki | Graphics by Kim Min-young
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.