Flood disaster repeats over and over

We must advance our flood response in a more scientific and systematic manner to avoid repeating disasters.

A schoolteacher in his 30s on his way to cheer his brother-in-law sitting for a job test at a public enterprise, a 47-year-old dentist on his way to work and a 24-year therapist on her way to the station for a trip with friends were among the bodies recovered from the underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, North Chungcheong, which was submerged by a flooded river on Saturday amid the deadly monsoon.

The schoolteacher got married just two months ago. The dentist was a father of three and a devoted son who checked up on his mother by phone every other day. The therapist was the only child who took pride in her work taking care of older adults.

The lives of these good people were suddenly cut short by instant flooding in the underpass. Raging waters spilled over from the nearby Miho River. If the river was well banked, flooding could have been avoided.

A second bridge had been under construction near the Miho Bridge. Some of the levees were removed for the construction. Builders piled up sand for temporary protection. Amid heavy rain, builders forklifted up to add the sandpile. The sand crumbled and slid into the underpass in minutes. Waters filled up the tunnel in just three minutes with 15 vehicles inside, killing at least nine.

If the city of Cheongju or the district office had sealed off the underpass during the heavy rain, the tragedy could have been avoided. The flood warning was set off at dawn. The flood control office of the Geum River said it had advised the city and Heungduk District Office to restrict traffic and evacuate residents two hours before the inundation. The district office staff said it delivered the warning to the division in charge, and the city office turned the blame to the provincial office.

Further investigation is needed. Authorities cannot make any excuse for failing to act when the stream levels reached a dangerous level from rainfall. All the riverbank areas are dangerous during summer with frequent rains and typhoons. City and district authorities are accountable for inaction or slack readiness.

The rainfall had been extraordinary. Still, deadly casualties could have been avoided. The tragic incident at the underpass resulted from negligent disaster management. A landslide in North Gyeongsang also caused casualties. The damaged area in Yecheon County had not been a part of the local government’s checklist for landslides. A pre-flood examination may have been done out of formality.

Heavy rainfall is a regular summer event caused by climate changes. The damages have a similar pattern. We must advance our flood response in a more scientific and systematic manner to avoid repeating disasters like an underdeveloped society and stop the summer tragedy of losing citizens to floods.