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Republic of Korea: Floods - Information Bulletin n° 1

Países
República de Corea
Fuentes
IFRC
Fecha de publicación

This Information Bulletin is for information only. The Federation is not seeking any funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
The Situation

Since 14 July, torrential rains have caused serious flooding in a number of provinces in the Republic of Korea, particularly affecting Seoul and Gyeonggi provinces. Between 14-15 July, 286.6 mm of rain fell on the capital, Seoul, and Incheon and the Northern Kyonggi province received 209 mm and 446 mm of rainfall, respectively. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Seoul recorded as much as 99.5 mm of rain in just one hour, the third largest hourly rate of precipitation since the nation began keeping rainfall data in 1907.

Reports from the local Red Cross branches provided the national headquarters with the following information:

  • No. of people dead or missing: 54
  • No. of houses submerged: 34,529
  • No. of houses damaged: 145
  • No. of roads cut off: 45
  • No. of cars washed away: 30

The Jamsu Bridge was closed due to high-water levels and the heavy rainfall has also affected some subway lines in Seoul causing services to be temporarily suspended. Flights between Seoul and several cities were also cancelled due to poor visibility at the airports.

It is expected that a further rain front, currently centred on the nation's southern areas, will bring additional flooding in the coming days.

Red Cross/Red Crescent Action

A total of 858 staff members and volunteers from Red Cross chapters in Seoul, Inchon, Kyonggi and Kangwon are participating in the current relief activities. The Republic of Korea National Red Cross dispatched 12 mobile kitchens to areas affected by the floods. Areas assisted by these kitchens include Seoul, Kyonggi Province and Inchon City.

The national society's volunteers and staff members assisted a total of 9,479 households from 13,278 targeted beneficiaries. To date, a total of KRW 309,465,000 (approximately USD 237,000) was expended on relief activities. Within the various flood relief activities, 5,780 kilograms of rice and 7,094 boxes of instant noodles were distributed to the victims.

The Republic of Korea National Red Cross is working in close cooperation with the government and other organizations to ensure a coordinated approach in addressing the needs of the flood victims.

Government Action

The National Disaster Prevention and Counter Measures Headquarters (NDPCH) instructed local authorities to increase inspections of locations most vulnerable to landslides and to work out evacuation plans for holidaymakers in resort areas, especially those situated in valleys.

In spite of this disastrous situation, the national society confirmed to the Federation's East Asia Regional Office that no international assistance is required at this time.

For a full description of the national society's profile, see www.ifrc.org

For further details please contact :

- The Republic of Korea National Society in Seoul; Phone (82) 2 3705-3705; Fax (82) 2 3705-3667; email knrc@redcross.org.kr

- Aurelia Balpe, Federation Desk Officer, Phone 41 22 730 4352; Fax 41 22 733 0395; email: balpe@ifrc.org

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.

Hiroshi Higashiura
Head
Asia and Pacific Department

Peter Rees-Gildea
Head, a.i.
Relationship Management Department