[Anchor]

Torrential rains have left deep scars on daily life. Twenty-one schools in Geoje were forced to suspend classes, while merchants whose shops were submerged are left overwhelmed, uncertain of when they will be able to reopen.

Continuing with KNN reporter Ok Min-ji.


[Reporter]

An elementary school cafeteria is covered in muddy water.

No matter how much they clean, there is no end in sight.

Due to the pouring rain, the school's playground, cafeteria, and affiliated kindergarten were all submerged.

I am currently standing on the school playground that suffered flood damage. As you can see, the playground is entirely a mud pit, and flood-damaged school supplies are piled up like this.

With this heavy rainfall, damage has been reported at 53 schools across Gyeongsangnam-do.

Twenty-one elementary, middle, and high schools in Geoje had to close.

[Jung Yoon-hee / Okpo-dong, Geoje:] "I was hoping we could return home today, but school has been pushed back by about a day. Even if classes resume, transportation issues are likely to arise, and it feels like there won't be enough time."

Coinciding with the start of the new semester, school operations are facing major disruptions.

Postponing the start of the semester is also under consideration.

Gohyeon-dong, the commercial center of Geoje, has turned into chaos.

Shops were flooded, leaving most of their merchandise unsellable.

[Shoe Store Merchant:] "Since about 70 to 80 percent of the shoes are completely soaked, even if we try to salvage whatever wasn't submerged in water, the damage is probably around 340 to 350 million won."

They are on the verge of having to shut down their businesses.

Electronic appliances essential for business, such as refrigerators and fryers, were all destroyed.

[Restaurant Merchant:] "The refrigerators don't work, and neither do the fryers or the dishwasher, so we cannot operate. I don't even know if we'll be able to do business tomorrow or the day after. It's devastating."

Emergency financial aid and relief supplies are arriving, but they fall far short of what is needed.

Gyeongsangnam-do has requested the government to declare Geoje and Tongyeong, which suffered severe damage, as special disaster zones.

Amidst the massive devastation, prompt support measures for the residents are urgently needed.

(Video by: Park Young-jun KNN, Taeyong KNN)

Ok Min-ji, KNN