Geoje Turns into Ruins in an Instant... Why the Damage Grew So Large

[Anchor]

Geoje, struck by sudden torrential downpours, has literally turned into ruins in many areas. While the record-breaking rainfall is a major factor, critics point out that structural issues stemming from rapid urbanization also amplified the damage.

KNN Reporter Lee Min-jae.

[Reporter]

Over the three days from August 15 to 17, more than 900 mm of rain poured down on Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.

With half of a year's worth of rain pouring down all at once, recovery efforts are expected to take a very long time.

Buildings where floodwaters rose to an adult's waist look reminiscent of a battlefield.

[Flood-hit Business Owner: It feels endless no matter how much we wipe. Mud keeps coming out, which is overwhelming.]

Geoje, which had recently regained vitality thanks to a favorable wind in shipbuilding orders, turned into ruins due to the unexpected, record-breaking downpour.

[Kim Dae-woo / Tow Truck Driver: It is very serious here. I think there are about 700 to 800 (flooded cars) gathered.]

One of the reasons for the massive damage is the structural problem of Geoje, which has undergone rapid urbanization.

Geoje is composed of steep mountainous terrain, and as the population grew with the establishment of shipyards in the 1970s, haphazard urban development took place by cutting into the mountains.

Consequently, many residential areas have been formed around steep slopes.

[Flood-hit Resident: That bridge area over there is a bit high. So the water flows down and gathers right here.]

Even outside the city center, because there are many sloped areas due to the steep terrain, low-lying areas and locations near rivers are constantly at risk of flooding.

[Kim Gi-seok / Head of Cheonggok Village, Geoje: Every summer, soil and sand sweep in, leaving nowhere to evacuate.]

The soil seen here is only a tiny fraction of what poured down from the mountains.

There is a drainage system near the underpass, but it is completely blocked by soil and debris, making it virtually submerged and impassable when it rains.

When heavy rain coincides with a high tide period when sea levels rise, like this time, the damage is bound to be even greater.

The record-breaking rainfall of 900 mm, combined with Geoje's topographical conditions, has left indelible and deep scars on the region.

(Video Journalist: Park Young-jun, KNN)

Lee Min-jae, KNN
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.