A Month After Flood Damage... Can Urban 'Bitmulbari' Prevent Water Disasters?

Typhoon No. 11 'Hinnamnor' Expected to Affect Korea on 5th-6th
'Bitmulbaji' Drainage System Disabled by Heavy Rain
Flooding Concerns Due to Strong Winds and Heavy Rain...Can Damage Be Prevented?

As Typhoon Hinnamnor, the 11th typhoon, continues to bring strong winds and heavy rain across the country, concerns are being raised about the management of rainwater drains, which was identified as one of the causes that worsened flood damage during last month's heavy rainfall.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] As Typhoon No. 11 Hinnamnor approaches South Korea, concerns are rising that flooding damage experienced about a month ago may be repeated. Despite the consecutive flooding damages mainly in the central region caused by last month's heavy rain, there are also criticisms that the management of rainwater inlets, identified as one of the causes that exacerbate the damage, remains inadequate.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 5th, Hinnamnor is expected to approach Jeju Island around 1 a.m. on the 6th and make landfall on the southern coast of Gyeongnam around 7 a.m. on the same day. According to the typhoon information released by the Meteorological Administration at 10 a.m. on the same day, the central pressure and maximum wind speed of Hinnamnor are 930 hPa (hectopascal) and 50 m/s, respectively, with an intensity classified as 'very strong.'

It is expected that the entire country will be affected by strong winds and heavy rain until the 6th, raising concerns about damage such as landslides and flooding. Jeju Island is forecasted to be under the influence of strong winds from the afternoon of the 5th to the morning of the 6th, the southern region from the night of the 5th to the morning of the 6th, and the east coast from the night of the 5th to the afternoon of the 6th. The Meteorological Administration expects 100 to 300 mm of rain nationwide on the 5th and 6th.

On the 4th, as Typhoon Hinnamnor moves northward toward the Korean Peninsula, a vehicle is passing along the flooded coastal road of Songaksan in Jeju Island. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Since the entire country falls under the influence of Hinnamnor, preparations against flooding damage caused by rain and wind are necessary. Even before the typhoon made landfall, strong rain poured in Jeju on the 4th, causing flooding damage to more than 40 houses and commercial buildings in Daejeong-eup.

Earlier, the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, which experienced heavy rain last month, suffered flooding damage to various facilities and casualties. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, 14 people died and 6 went missing due to the heavy rain that continued from the 8th to the 17th of last month. As of that day, 15,862 houses and commercial buildings were flooded.

As damage such as roads being submerged occurred rapidly, some citizens opened rainwater inlet covers and removed accumulated trash and cigarette butts to allow water to drain. On the 8th of last month, when the heavy rain began, a post titled 'Superman appeared at Gangnam Station in real-time' was uploaded on an online community along with photos. The man in the photo was seen opening the drainage cover with bare hands near the flooded Gangnam Station and continuing to clean up trash. The author reported, "Thanks to him, the water that had risen up to the calves quickly receded."

On the 8th of last month, amid ongoing flood damage in the Seoul metropolitan area due to heavy rain, a photo was posted on an online community showing a man opening a roadside storm drain cover and removing trash. Photo by Online Community Capture

Rainwater inlets are facilities designed to allow rainwater to flow into sewage pipes, installed at intervals of less than 10 meters in flood-prone areas to facilitate drainage. Currently, 557,000 rainwater inlets are installed in Seoul. However, during the previous heavy rain, there were criticisms that rainwater inlets were blocked by vinyl, trash, cigarette butts, etc., hindering drainage.

Identified as one of the causes that exacerbate flooding damage, local governments have strengthened inspections of rainwater inlets, but there are still criticisms that drainage management remains inadequate after the heavy rain. In fact, rainwater inlets blocked by trash were found in various places after the damage.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that, anticipating the metropolitan area to be under the typhoon's influence on the 5th and 6th, it took preemptive measures on the 2nd. The city has re-inspected and dredged sewage pipes and rainwater inlets, focusing on low-lying and flood-vulnerable areas. It also removed covers and additionally cleaned rainwater inlet connection pipes to ensure that rainwater can flow smoothly into sewage pipes in preparation.

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