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Seoul: President of South Korea Yoon Seok Yul On Monday, he blamed the authorities for not following through disaster response bases as the death toll from days of heavy rain rose to 39, including dozens killed in a flooded tunnel.
Rain has lashed central and southern regions of the country since Thursday, with the rainy season, which began in late June, reaching its climax. The Ministry of Interior also reported nine people missing and 34 injured across the country.
The 12 deaths, including three bodies, occurred overnight in a tunnel in the central city of Cheonju, where 16 vehicles, including a bus, were immersed in flash floods on Saturday after a river dam collapsed. Nine others were wounded.
The incident raised questions about South Koreaprevention and response efforts Flood damage. Some drivers who regularly use the road blamed the government for failing to block access to the tunnel despite widespread flooding expected.
Floods have claimed dozens of lives during recent rainy seasons as weather patterns become more extreme.
The government pledged last year to take steps to better deal with disasters caused by climate change after Seoul, including the attractive Gangnam district, was hit by its heaviest rains in 115 years, killing at least 14 people and inundating subways, roads and homes.
Just back from an overseas trip, Yoon held an inter-agency meeting on disaster response on Monday and said the situation has worsened due to mismanagement of vulnerable areas.
“We have repeatedly emphasized access control to hazardous areas and preventive evacuation since last year, but if the basic principles of disaster response are not maintained immediately, it is difficult to ensure public safety,” Yoon meeting said.
He called on the authorities to make every effort to save the victims and pledged support for recovery work and affected families, including designating flood-affected areas as special disaster areas.
Rain has lashed central and southern regions of the country since Thursday, with the rainy season, which began in late June, reaching its climax. The Ministry of Interior also reported nine people missing and 34 injured across the country.
The 12 deaths, including three bodies, occurred overnight in a tunnel in the central city of Cheonju, where 16 vehicles, including a bus, were immersed in flash floods on Saturday after a river dam collapsed. Nine others were wounded.
The incident raised questions about South Koreaprevention and response efforts Flood damage. Some drivers who regularly use the road blamed the government for failing to block access to the tunnel despite widespread flooding expected.
Floods have claimed dozens of lives during recent rainy seasons as weather patterns become more extreme.
The government pledged last year to take steps to better deal with disasters caused by climate change after Seoul, including the attractive Gangnam district, was hit by its heaviest rains in 115 years, killing at least 14 people and inundating subways, roads and homes.
Just back from an overseas trip, Yoon held an inter-agency meeting on disaster response on Monday and said the situation has worsened due to mismanagement of vulnerable areas.
“We have repeatedly emphasized access control to hazardous areas and preventive evacuation since last year, but if the basic principles of disaster response are not maintained immediately, it is difficult to ensure public safety,” Yoon meeting said.
He called on the authorities to make every effort to save the victims and pledged support for recovery work and affected families, including designating flood-affected areas as special disaster areas.
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