[Anchor]

Now, let us go live to the scene of the landslide in Geoje, where one resident died and two others were injured. Reporter Kim su-yun is at the apartment complex struck by the landslide.

Reporter Kim, it appears that the soil and debris remain piled up behind you. How are the recovery operations progressing?

[Reporter]

I am live at the apartment complex in Okpo-dong, Geoje, which was struck by a landslide early this morning (August 17).

The rain that fell throughout the day has temporarily subsided for now.

Right behind me, excavators have been mobilized since immediately after the accident to clear away the soil that collapsed from the mountain behind.

The landslide caused major damage to three apartment buildings and vehicles parked on the ground level. Among them, the building where the soil tore through the first floor leaving three residents dead or injured has seen no recovery work following the rescue operations due to fears of further landslides.

Various household items and structures are still scattered across the site.

Currently, recovery efforts are focused on the surface parking lot and the other two apartment buildings.

[Anchor]

With such heavy rain in Geoje, there are serious concerns about additional landslides. Have the residents evacuated safely?

[Reporter]

Yes, the Geoje city government has issued evacuation orders for about 350 residents across approximately 240 households in five buildings deemed at risk of further damage.

Residents staying at shelters set up in nearby elementary schools and other facilities are spending an anxious time continuously checking weather updates on their mobile phones.

[Ahn Jae-hwi / Evacuated Resident: "We can go back home once it is judged to be safe, but until then, I don't think we can go inside. It's disheartening. I've never seen anything like this in my life. For something we only saw on the news to happen right at our home..."]

Record-breaking downpours have battered not only Geoje but also Tongyeong and Sacheon, causing widespread flooding and isolation, with an estimated 360 residents evacuated overall.

As the continuous rain delays recovery efforts, the National Fire Agency issued a Level 3 National Fire Mobilization Order for Geoje and Tongyeong a short while ago.

With more rain forecasted through tomorrow, local governments in South Gyeongsang Province, including Geoje, have urged citizens to refrain from going out and to stay safe.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Video by Jung Kyung-moon | Video Editing by Chae Chul-ho)