Landslide Buries Kindergarten in Geoje; Casualties Avoided Due to Holiday

Rocks and earth collapsing from the mountain due to heavy rains struck a kindergarten in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, shattering windows and filling the interior with mud. Because the accident occurred on a holiday, there were no casualties at the facility, which is attended by about 40 special education preschoolers, although vehicles in front of the kindergarten were damaged and water rose to the second floor.

Rainwater that entered the kindergarten building rose to the second floor, and electricity and gas have been cut off. Geoje Kindergarten Principal Ju Ji-won stated, "(The fire station) told us to wait, saying they would come after handling human casualties, but we don't know when that will be. We are currently without electricity or gas." Teachers and nearby residents have begun recovery efforts, bailing out water.

A villa next to the kindergarten was also buried by rocks and mud swept down from the mountain. Residents requested recovery support from the fire department and local government but were told to wait; consequently, they mobilized private construction machinery from Jinju to carry out recovery work themselves.

As damage continues across Geoje, there is a shortage of recovery personnel and equipment. Twenty-one schools in the Geoje region will be closed for the day on the 18th.