41 schools damaged by record rains in Geoje, Tongyeong as Education Ministry mobilizes response

Record rainfall that lashed Geoje and Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province damaged 41 schools and other educational facilities through flooding, leaks and structural damage. The Ministry of Education activated an emergency response team and began safety inspections and restoration work at the affected schools.

According to the Ministry of Education, 41 educational facilities in Geoje and Tongyeong had confirmed damage from the heavy rains as of 6 p.m. Monday. By area, 33 were in Geoje and eight in Tongyeong.

By school type, the damage affected 10 standalone kindergartens, 19 elementary schools, eight middle schools, three high schools and one special-needs school. Damage types broke down as 25 cases of flooding, nine of leaks and seven of facility destruction or loss.

Some schools in Geoje and Tongyeong are also serving as evacuation shelters for displaced residents. The gymnasium of Okpo Elementary School in Geoje is housing residents who fled a nearby landslide.

The ministry, working with the Korea Education Facility Safety Institute, completed emergency safety inspections at three schools, including Okpo Elementary. The ministry's director of student safety policy also visited Geoje on Tuesday to personally assess the damage and monitor restoration progress.

The ministry plans to disburse restoration funds quickly through the Korea Education Facility Safety Institute's advance payment system and, if necessary, provide additional support through special disaster safety management grants.

"We will complete restoration of the damaged facilities as quickly as possible to ensure the second-semester academic schedule proceeds without disruption," a ministry official said.