1,000t Super Block That Withstood Historic Typhoon Protected Gageodo Residents

Apartment-scale Caisson of 10 Floors, 28m High and 10,000 Tons
Gageodo Residents Say "Caisson Blocked the Typhoon"

Caisson installation work. In the waters off Gageodo, 16 large caissons, each 28 meters high and weighing 10,000 tons?equivalent to a 10-story apartment building?have been installed recently.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A 10,000-ton super block (caisson) in the sea off Gageodo Island, located at the southwesternmost point of the country, withstood an ultra-powerful typhoon.

Despite Typhoon No. 8 'Bavi,' which brought record-breaking winds to the village in front of Gageodo Port from the night of the 26th to the early morning of the 27th, the village remained safe.

Residents unanimously said that the caisson installed in the sea right in front of the breakwater last year saved the village, as it stood firm against the ultra-powerful typhoon.

During Typhoon 'Muifa' in 2011, a large concrete structure (tetrapod) weighing over 60 tons, which blocks waves in front of the breakwater, was pushed more than 60 meters onto the road in front of the village.

Every time a typhoon passed, accidents such as roofs flying off and windows breaking in the village were frequent.

However, since the caisson was installed in the sea in front of the breakwater last year, the damage has significantly decreased.

A caisson is a box-shaped, ultra-large concrete structure used as the main structure for bridge foundations, breakwaters, and quay walls, and is filled with soil or gravel inside, making it extremely heavy.

Sixteen large caissons, each 28 meters high?equivalent to a 10-story apartment building?and weighing 10,000 tons, have been installed to date.

Installing each caisson costs 3.5 billion KRW.

It was expected that building a super breakwater by stacking caissons would withstand typhoons with a 100-year return period, and this expectation is now being confirmed.

The breakwater at Gageodo Port, Heuksan-myeon, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, was severely damaged between the night of the 26th and the early morning of the 27th as Typhoon No. 8 'Bavi' accompanied by strong winds struck.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

When Typhoon Bavi approached, the wave height in the sea off Gageodo was 13.1 meters, 0.6 meters higher than during Typhoon Lingling (12.5 meters), but it was successfully blocked.

The Mokpo Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office said, "Considering that the caisson stabilization work was not yet completed, the fact that it blocked record-breaking waves is promising."

Due to Typhoon Bavi, the 16th caisson shifted slightly from its position, but it is reported that the main structures did not suffer major damage.

During Typhoon Lingling, the rear part of one caisson was slightly damaged, but it prevented major damage.

Residents of Gageodo said, "Thanks to the installation of the massive caissons, the village suffered little damage despite the ultra-powerful typhoon and high waves," adding, "Once the construction is fully completed, typhoon damage in Gageodo is expected to decrease significantly."

The restoration work of Gageodo Port is expected to continue until 2025.

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