South Korea Mobilizes Thousands to Help Landslide Victims

By Ravelle Mohammed, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, July 28, 2011

The South Korean government said Thursday it is sending thousands of soldiers, police, and relief workers to help in the mudslide and flooding recovery efforts.

Seoul received 26 inches of rain since Tuesday afternoon. The record rainfall caused major flooding, with waters rising to car rooftops.

The heavy rain also caused several mudslides that resulted in the death of at least 48 people. Landslides swallowed up parts of the mountainside and many properties leaving over 4,000 damaged homes.

According to the Defense Ministry, soldiers are looking for several active land mines buried years ago near air defense unit on Mount Wumyeon. A number of the mines have been found, but the ministry is not releasing the number of explosives still out there.

The South Korean government also sent workers from eight ministries and government organizations to help in recovery.

Korea’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported over 34,000 soldiers and reservists from the Ministry of National Defense, members of the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs are offering aid to areas where soil was washed away and rail tracks damaged.

NEMA said its main priority would be “search operations for those still missing, and that they would also focus on monitoring the water level and checking locations susceptible to further landslides so as to relocate people if necessary.”