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Death toll rises to 59, 12 others still missing
By Kim Rahn
The landslide that killed 18 and injured a dozen others in southern Seoul has produced calls for the government to come up with a new disaster management system to more effectively counter torrential rain.
While experts say reckless development projects were behind multiple landslides in and around Seoul, the death toll from these and floods caused by record rainfall rose to 59 nationwide with 12 others reported missing, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Thursday.
Engineering experts and civic groups claimed that Seocho-gu Office’s park construction on Mt. Umyeon contributed to the disaster, as it carved into mountain slopes to build wooden trekking routes, an artificial lake and a valley on the steep slopes for “residents’ welfare.”
“There have been signs of deterioration on the mountain, with some trees being pulled up by typhoon Kompasu last year. But Seoul City and the ward office didn’t set up any preventive measures. The death of 18 people was man-made,” a researcher at the Korea Research Institute on Human Settlements said.
He pointed out not only Umyeon but also other mountains are in a similar situation, with local authorities developing them recklessly under populist welfare policies.
It was found that since May the city government has monitored 71 parks and hillside locations considered vulnerable to landslides, but Mt. Umyeon was not included.
Besides measures against thoughtless development, experts call for a paradigm shift in flood control and city planning following recent unusual weather patterns including the largest downpour in a century, which started Tuesday and inundated roads in Gangnam and Gwanghwamun in Seoul.
Following the downpour during last Chuseok holiday in September, Seoul City said in February it would build a huge underground drainage tunnel in Gwanghwamun to expand the drainage capability in downtown areas.
But the tunnel construction is scheduled to be completed in 2013, and so was unable to prevent flooding this year. The city’s other plans to expand drains haven’t been started yet due to delays in construction.
Civic groups claim the city’s flood prevention measures are shortsighted.
“After the downpour last September, engineering experts and civic groups urged the city government to prepare long-term plans to improve the permeability of the ground, as we are seeing more torrential rain from climate change. But it didn’t listen to them,” said Shin Jae-eun, an activist at the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements.
The group said instead of preparing proper measures, the city government keeps blaming the “unexpected torrential rain.”
For the flood in Gangnam and Gwanghwamun, urbanization is believed to be the main reason as asphalt roads and concrete prevent the rainwater from being absorbed through the soil.
“Engineering experts say areas, which used to sustain little flood damage in the past, are seeing more now because the authorities have set up anti-flooding facilities mainly in low-lying regions,” Shin said.
The federation said the city should make roads and buildings environmentally friendlier so that water can seep through the soil and be discharged slowly.
“For example, flowerbeds along car roads are currently located higher than the roads because they were set up for ornamental purposes. If they are located lower than the road level, rainwater will flow down into them.”
She also suggested changing paving blocks into water-permeable ones.
“Without structural changes in roads and buildings, such flooding and the consequent damage will be repeated,” the activist said.
The NEMA said following climate change, it is working on re-setting the criteria according to which the authorities would take actions against flood and other natural disasters.
