Typhoon 'Bavi' Enters Full Impact Zone... Avoid Landslide Risk Areas and Flooded Road Sections

Concerns Over Ground Subsidence in Various Areas Amid the Longest Rainy Season in History

On the afternoon of the 26th, when Typhoon 'Bavi' struck Jeju, a section of the coastal road in Sangmo-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City was flooded. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As Typhoon No. 8 'Bavi' moved northward to the waters near Jeju Island on the 26th, the entire country is expected to come under the typhoon's influence from late night, requiring thorough preparations. Especially this year, with the longest rainy season on record weakening the ground in many areas, the combination with this typhoon could further expand damage from additional soil erosion or landslides, necessitating special caution.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's National Disaster Safety Portal, during typhoon warnings, vehicles must not travel on flooded roads, underpasses, or bridges. Also, building doors and windows should be closed to prevent damage, and it is safer to stay away from windows or glass doors.

Since secondary damage can occur from gas leaks, gas valves should be shut off in advance, and electrical facilities inside and outside the house that pose an electrocution risk should not be touched. It is advisable to avoid dangerous areas such as construction sites, utility poles, and underground spaces.

Vessels in operation should inform nearby ships or the coast guard of their current location and evacuate as far as possible from the typhoon's path.

Camping or playing in mountain valleys, rivers, and breakwaters should be stopped, and people should move to safe places. Also, low-lying areas, frequently flooded zones, landslide-prone areas, underground spaces, or old houses and buildings at risk of collapse should be avoided.

The government also urged securing facilities that could be blown away by strong winds and taking proactive safety measures at COVID-19 screening clinics. Roofs and signboards at risk of being blown away by the wind should be tied down in advance, and windows should be firmly secured to the frames with tape or similar materials. Agricultural facilities such as greenhouses should be tightly tied with supports or plastic strings, and farmland drainage channels should be maintained.

Especially on the west coast along the typhoon's path, the state of mooring for fish farms, fishing nets, gear, and vessels should be checked, and preparations for high tide should include thorough inspections of coastal and riverside lowlands and the operation readiness of water inflow and outflow facilities.

Vehicles parked near rivers, beaches, or low-lying areas should be moved to safe locations, and household drains or nearby drainage systems should be inspected and cleared if blocked. For apartment underground parking lots or buildings expected to flood, it is recommended to prepare sandbags or water barriers to prevent flooding.

The government at the inter-agency response status meeting held the previous day instructed swift preventive measures to avoid secondary damage in emergency recovery areas affected by heavy rains earlier this month and also directed COVID-19 quarantine management at various evacuation facilities.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young said, "Please ensure that related measures work properly on-site and take proactive preemptive actions to prevent casualties among disaster-vulnerable groups," and emphasized, "Citizens should also prepare in advance by firmly securing items that could be blown away by strong winds and refrain from going out once under the typhoon's influence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.