21 Schools in Geoje, Gyeongnam Closed on August 18 Due to 'Record-Breaking Torrential Rain'

Due to record-breaking heavy rainfall over the three-day Liberation Day holiday, 21 schools in Geoje, Gyeongnam Province were closed on August 18.

According to the Gyeongnam Office of Education, on August 18, 1 out of all 41 elementary schools in Geoje, and 20 middle and high schools out of 30 (excluding 10 already on summer break), were closed for the day.

The schools included Sinhyeon Elementary School, Geoje Jeil High School, Dundeok Middle School, Geoje Sangmun Middle School, Geoje Middle School, Geoje Jungang High School, Haeseong Middle School, and Haeseong High School. They decided to suspend operations due to various reasons including water leaks, flooding, landslides, and transportation disruptions that made commuting impossible.

Additionally, care services were suspended at Myeongsa Elementary School, Oegan Elementary School, Oepo Elementary School, Jangpyeong Elementary School, Daewupo, Dongbu Elementary School, Sinhyeon Elementary School, and Tongyeong Duryong Elementary School due to the damage caused by the heavy rain.

Kwon Sungi, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education (right), is visiting Jangpyeong Elementary School in Geoje to inspect the damage caused by heavy rain. [Photo by Gyeongnam Office of Education]

From August 15 to August 17, which included the Liberation Day and its substitute holiday, Gyeongnam Province experienced extreme rainfall. In particular, the southern coastal regions including Geoje and Tongyeong were hit hardest, resulting in one fatality and three injuries.

Landslides, mudslides, and river overflows led to flooding, leaks, and damage to farmland, houses, and roads. Reports of school facility damage totaled 38 in Geoje and 8 in Tongyeong, for a total of 46 cases.

By school type, this damage affected 10 kindergartens, 22 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 special school.

The Gyeongnam Office of Education plans to prioritize restoring necessary facilities before the new semester begins after the summer break, so that there will be no disruption to educational activities.

In particular, if cafeteria repairs cannot be completed before school starts, student meals will be provided through alternative meal services contracted to external vendors.

Moreover, to prepare for cases where restoration cannot be completed during the break, the office is considering postponing the start of the semester for schools affected by the heavy rain, such as Jangpyeong Elementary School in Geoje. Any schools that have delayed openings will operate emergency care programs at neighboring schools.

In addition, to enable schools to concentrate on restoration and academic management, the Office of Education and facility managers from the regional education support centers are assessing the extent of the damage. Emergency funds will be allocated to the most urgent cases as a priority.

Administrative and financial assistance, such as applying for disaster recovery funds from the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Institute, will also be expedited.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.