1 in 10 underpasses near rivers at risk of flooding have no entry-blocking facilities

As the third anniversary of the Osong disaster approaches, safety facilities at underground roadways nationwide that are at risk of flooding are still found to be insufficient. According to National Assembly data, 59 of the 564 sites subject to mandatory installation of entryblocking facilities still do not have such facilities. After the Osong disaster, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport made it mandatory to install entryblocking facilities at underground roadways located within 500 meters of a river or in floodrisk areas. It also required underground roadways with a high flood risk to be equipped with evacuation guidance facilities such as emergency escape ladders, but the actual installation rate remains low. In North Chungcheong Province, only 7 of the 15 sites subject to evacuation guidance facilities have completed installation, and construction is still delayed at 8 sites, including Shimok 1, Shimok 2, and Yangji underground roadways. Experts pointed out that mechanical blocking facilities alone have limitations, so escape devices and safety facilities should be installed together in preparation for situations where people may become trapped.