Typhoon Chaba leaves hundreds of victims
By Kim Bo-eun
Seven people were killed, three are missing and hundreds have fallen victim to floods after the powerful typhoon Chaba hit southern parts of the country between Tuesday and Wednesday. Chaba was the strongest typhoon since Maemi in 2003.
The government is considering designating the affected regions as special disaster zones.
According to the Ministry of Public Safety and Security, Thursday, three people were killed in Busan, three in Ulsan and one in Gyeongju. Three people remain missing, one each in the cities of Gyeongju and Miryang, and on Jeju Island.
Rescue authorities found the body of a woman surnamed Kim, 52, in a basement parking lot at an apartment building in Ulsan, early Thursday. Another unidentified person was found dead in Gyeongju after being swept away while checking a rice paddy.
Authorities also found a rescue worker, who went missing while on duty in Ulsan the previous day, dead.
The typhoon inundated the homes of at least 350 people in Jeju and Ulsan, with at least 14 houses partially destroyed. But the number is expected to increase when municipalities complete their inspections of damage in the days to come. Residents are staying at nearby schools and community centers.
A total of 7,747 hectares of farmland was inundated on Jeju Island and South Jeolla Province. In addition, 1,046 vehicles were damaged by flooding.
Seven insurance companies reported a total of 20.3 billion won in costs from flooding and fallen objects.
Landslides occurred in 21 areas including Ulsan; two seawalls were destroyed; 17 roads were damaged; and six river banks were swept away. Six roads in Ulsan are still functional.
Around 228,500 households in Jeju, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan and Daegu suffered power outages from the typhoon.
Dozens of international flights going to Tsushima Island and Fukuoka in Japan were cancelled as the typhoon moved toward Japan.
Operations of production lines at Hyundai Motor’s factories in Ulsan were halted for two days as parts of the facilities were inundated.
The Ministry of National Defense has sent 1,200 military personnel to help municipal workers deal with the damage from the typhoon.
Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Il-ho said that the government may designate the affected regions as special disaster zones, saying the damage was large enough to meet the requirements for the designation.
“We’ll provide special financial support for the region,” Yoo said during a meeting with economic-related ministers. “We’ll help the victims return to normal as soon as possible.”
The typhoon had an atmospheric pressure of 957 hectopascals and maximum wind speeds of 47 meters per second measured on Jeju Island. It hit Jeju early Wednesday and moved northeast striking the southern cities of Busan and Ulsan before moving further eastward and away from the peninsula.