An inspection of 10 areas that suffered significant vehicle flooding damage from heavy rains last year found that facility improvements had been made in only two locations. In most areas, drainage system maintenance and storm drain management remain inadequate, raising concerns that flood damage could recur during this summer's monsoon season.
The Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance (000810.KS) Traffic Safety Research Institute said Thursday that an on-site inspection in May of 10 locations across five local governments — Gwangju, Gunsan, Dangjin, Seosan, and Iksan — that suffered major vehicle flooding damage last year found no noticeable facility improvements at eight sites, excluding Dangjin and Gunsan.
In Dangjin, construction of a new rainwater pumping station was underway near a traditional market where flooding had occurred. Gunsan was found to have installed continuous-type storm drains, water level gauges, and flood-monitoring closed-circuit television (CCTV).
In contrast, the remaining areas still required expanded drainage facilities or backflow prevention installations. In some areas, storm drains were clogged with sediment and trash or left neglected under covers, indicating inadequate maintenance.
The survey targeted areas that suffered vehicle flooding damage from record heavy rains between July and September last year. At the time, based on Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance auto insurance claims, 2,908 vehicles were flooded nationwide, with damages reaching 21.73 billion won. In particular, on July 17 alone, 1,004 vehicles were flooded, centered on South Chungcheong Province and Gwangju, with flooded vehicles over just three days accounting for 68.4% of the total.
The institute pointed out that drainage system improvements are urgently needed, especially in low-lying areas with a history of flooding. It emphasized the need to expand the installation of continuous-type storm drains, which can improve initial drainage efficiency during heavy rains, and to distribute opening-and-closing devices that prevent trash and other foreign materials from entering storm drains.
"As localized heavy rains become more frequent due to climate change, the likelihood of flooding is increasing even in areas that had no flood damage in the past," said Jeon Je-ho, senior researcher at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Traffic Safety Research Institute. "We must hurry to remove foreign materials inside storm drains and improve facilities in flood-vulnerable areas before the monsoon season."
