ID :
199149
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 12:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/199149
The shortlink copeid
Seoul mayor pledges to overhaul anti-flood system
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- Reeling from the heaviest downpours in a century last week, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that it will overhaul its flood prevention measures to cope with unusual weather conditions.
The move came after the record-breaking rainfall and the subsequent landslides and floods killed 62 and left thousands homeless in Seoul and its surrounding areas last week. The disaster provoked public outcry for stronger countermeasures as the Korean Peninsula has already come under the influence of global climate change.
"I would like to offer my sincere apology to the citizens who have been suffering from the calamities, and also my deep condolences to bereaved families," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in a press conference. "We've learned that the ever-changing climate is a reality we face now, not extraordinary phenomena."
Oh pledged to shift Seoul's anti-disaster paradigm and devise new measures to brace for torrential rain of "even more than 100 millimeters per hour."
Up to 94mm of rain fell per hour in southern Seoul on July 27, a record volume witnessed once or twice in a century, according to the state weather agency. Seoul's yearly total reaches about 1,500mm on average.
Under the envisioned plan, the city will improve the capacity of drainage systems citywide to reduce the risk of flooding, and invest 5 trillion won (US$4.7 billion) in areas prone to floods and landslides over the next decade.
The municipal government also plans to reconstruct formerly low-lying homes on higher ground and discourage the construction of semi-basement homes, according to the mayor.
"We will not spare efforts to ensure public safety," he said. "Though the projects may take more than 10 years and cost more than 17 trillion won, we will draw public consensus and explore ways to secure the budget."
The move came after the record-breaking rainfall and the subsequent landslides and floods killed 62 and left thousands homeless in Seoul and its surrounding areas last week. The disaster provoked public outcry for stronger countermeasures as the Korean Peninsula has already come under the influence of global climate change.
"I would like to offer my sincere apology to the citizens who have been suffering from the calamities, and also my deep condolences to bereaved families," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in a press conference. "We've learned that the ever-changing climate is a reality we face now, not extraordinary phenomena."
Oh pledged to shift Seoul's anti-disaster paradigm and devise new measures to brace for torrential rain of "even more than 100 millimeters per hour."
Up to 94mm of rain fell per hour in southern Seoul on July 27, a record volume witnessed once or twice in a century, according to the state weather agency. Seoul's yearly total reaches about 1,500mm on average.
Under the envisioned plan, the city will improve the capacity of drainage systems citywide to reduce the risk of flooding, and invest 5 trillion won (US$4.7 billion) in areas prone to floods and landslides over the next decade.
The municipal government also plans to reconstruct formerly low-lying homes on higher ground and discourage the construction of semi-basement homes, according to the mayor.
"We will not spare efforts to ensure public safety," he said. "Though the projects may take more than 10 years and cost more than 17 trillion won, we will draw public consensus and explore ways to secure the budget."
