'Automatic Barrier Systems' Installed at 145 Flood-Prone Underground Roads Nationwide

On the 23rd of last month, firefighters dispatched to the No. 1 Underpass near Busan Station in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, where heavy rain had fallen, conducted rescue operations. At that time, three people trapped in a vehicle?a man in his 50s, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 20s?died. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government will establish remote vehicle blocking facilities in underground underpasses that are at risk of flooding during heavy rains.

On the 9th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that following the flooding accident at Busan Choryang No.1 Underpass, where three people died during last month's heavy rains in the Busan area, it will implement flood prevention measures such as automating underpass blocking facilities.

Reflecting the need to control multiple facilities simultaneously during simultaneous heavy rain damage, the plan is to build vehicle blocking facilities that can remotely block traffic without having to go directly to the site.

Accordingly, the vehicle blocking facilities, which have been pilot-installed in some underpasses since last year, will be promptly expanded to 145 underpasses nationwide that are at risk of flooding.

In addition, newly constructed underpasses will be required to be equipped with safety facilities such as vehicle blocking, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related ministries will collaborate to announce the legislative notice for related regulations within this month.

A service will also be promoted to share underpass control status with vehicle navigation companies and provide real-time information to drivers.

Along with this, frontline manuals will be revised by creating checklists for underpass control standards, and the education target will be expanded to include not only local government officials but also police officers.

Furthermore, a situation propagation system will be established to relay real-time rainfall information and control standards to facility managers, ensuring no gaps occur at the frontline.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Jin Young urged, "Taking the Busan underpass flooding accident as an opportunity, the central and local governments, as well as the public and private sectors, must unite to ensure that such accidents never happen again."

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