The Disaster
After devastating upper areas of the
country, the torrential rains took a swift turn back to the south. The
Meteorological Administration issued a rain warning for Cholla and Kyungsang
provinces where up to 33mm of rains fell per hour. Damage to property including
arable lands is estimated at 1,336 billion Korean won (CHF 1.5 billion).
To date, 191 deaths have been recorded and 36 people are missing.
Red Cross/Red Crescent Action
The Korean Red Cross is running 8 feeding centres in 23 locations. Its seven mobile soup kitchens are providing meals in the shelters housing the vulnerable left homeless by the floods. The Society has distributed relief items to 132,635 people (45,253 families) so far. Goods distributed include 13,130 kg of rice, 16,552 boxes of instant noodles, 15,596 bottles of water, and 5,048 sets of kitchen utensils.
To encourage donations from the general population, the Society took part in a day-long, country-wide live programme organised by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) on 14 August. The programme reached a large audience and brought in relief items valued at 50 million Korean won (CHF 57,800) which were delivered rapidly to the flood affected areas.
Central areas including Seoul where the situation is improving seem to be recovering and the Red Cross is now orienting its activities towards rehabilitation. The Red Cross floods emergency centre will be maintained until the situation stabilises and the operation is closed. Unless the situation worsens this will be the final bulletin on this disaster.
Hiroshi Higashiura
Director
Asia & Pacific Department
Peter Rees-Gildea
Director
Operations Funding and Reporting Department