‘극한 폭우’ 거제서 팔 걷은 자원봉사자들…복구도 위로도 ‘함께’

In the Gyeongnam coastal city of Gyeongju, residents gathered on the morning of the 18th to join a volunteer effort to clean up the aftermath of a severe flood. One of the participants was YouTube star Kim Yun-guk, who arrived at the Okpo Community Center's video studio around 8am to help with the cleanup.

Kim Yun-guk explained that due to the lack of manpower, people had come from all over Gyeongju to assist in the cleanup. Over the course of the day, they cleared debris, removed glass and broken tiles, and thoroughly cleaned the interior of the studio. They then quickly moved on to the next area in need of assistance.

This level of volunteerism was greatly appreciated by local resident, 72-year-old Kim Ieong-wuk, who saw his store completely swept away by the floodwaters. He expressed his gratitude to the volunteers for their help.

On the 17th, Gyeongju experienced an unprecedented 654.3cm of rainfall, causing widespread destruction to homes and businesses. One resident lost their life and two others were injured in the Okpo-dong apartment complex. In response, the volunteer team provided support and shelter to the apartment's residents, who temporarily relocated to nearby Okpo Elementary School and later to Okpo Middle School's gymnasium.

At the gymnasium, residents were greeted by the Disaster Mental Health Recovery Support Center, which provided emotional support to those who were overwhelmed by the situation. As of the afternoon of the 18th, over 100 residents had received counseling.

The gymnasium was also equipped with 40 tents for emergency shelter, housing 92 people. Meals were served at the 1st floor canteen, which remained operational thanks to the efforts of the volunteers. In the apartment complex affected by the disaster, an urgent safety assessment was conducted, with structural reinforcement recommended to prevent a potential landslide.

Kim Yun-hak, a soil and foundation engineer, noted that the hillside on which the landslide occurred was precarious, with thin layers of soil that could easily be displaced by heavy rain. He emphasized the need for further stabilization work to prevent future incidents. While residents of nearby neighborhoods would likely be able to return home once the cleanup was complete, those directly impacted by the landslide would require a more thorough safety assessment before occupancy could be approved.