My condolences to the residents of Seoul who lost their lives in the flooding yesterday. I read a tip from someone on Twitter who said that this was the worst flooding in Seoul since August 5, 1942, so I did some searching in Keijo Nippo and found the relevant articles which describe the great flood that hit Seoul on that day. These articles will give you some historical perspective into the natural disaster which just befell Seoul. I hope you will find these helpful and useful.
(Translation)
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 7, 1942
Heavenly Blessings Abound on the Breadbasket Peninsula
Five Days of Obon Festival Rains Enveloped All of Seoul
It rained. Water was poured into the mouths of the rice paddy fields! It rained as though rice was going to be planted. The fierce rain that began on the morning of the 5th and enveloped all of Korea, both the northern and the southern parts, did not stop falling even in the afternoon, and in Pyeonganbuk-do, the rainfall exceeded 320 mm in total. Under the skies, where the breadbasket peninsula was joyfully fulfilling its mission, houses were collapsing but with minor damage to people and livestock. Against this backdrop, the Imperial farmers sprang forth into the rice paddies and the farm fields, and they are now hard at work holding their hoes. The following is a report on the amount of rainfall and damage to houses and livestock in each region that has guaranteed this year's rice crop.
Flooding in Central and Northern Korea
Information reported to the Defense Division
The following is the status of flood damage in Central and Northern Korea as reported to the Defense Division of the Police Department on August 6.
7 Gyeonggi residents were injured, 10 dead in Gyeonggi, 3 dead in Hamgyeongnam-do, 7 missing; 9 structures washed away in Gyeonggi, 10 structures washed away in Hamgyeongnam-do; 28 structures collapsed in Gyeonggi, 12 structures collapsed in Hamgyeongnam-do; 7988 structures flooded in Gyeonggi, 2906 structures flooded in Hamgyeongnam-do, 20 structures flooded in Pyeongannam-do, 2300 structures flooded in Pyeonganbuk-do; 169 mm rainfall in Gyeonggi, 142 mm rainfall in Hamgyeongnam-do, a large amount of rainfall in Pyeongannam-do, 323 mm of rainfall in Pyeonganbuk-do, 788 mm of rainfall in Yellow Sea; no rainfall in Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gangwon-do; 5 to 13 mm of rainfall in Hamgyeongbuk-do, no rainfall in Chungcheongnam-do, 150-200 mm of rainfall in Jeollabuk-do.
Struggles of the Telecommunications Defense Corps
Working hard in the rain
The muddy water flowing into Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul overflowed Gwanghwamun Street and entered the basement of the Health Management Division of the Bureau of Telecommunications, and by 1 p.m. on the 5th, the water was pouring into the warehouse. The members of the special Defense team of the Bureau of Telecommunications rose to the occasion and took advantage of the occasional pauses in the downpour to remove safes and documents from the building. After the rain stopped, the team members worked tirelessly to drain the water, and on the 6th, from early in the morning, Health Supervision Section Chief Ogawa took the lead in encouraging the team members, who showed the results of their daily training by moving documents through a relay system and performing drainage work without regret.
Traffic is fine!
Trains were restored despite a 20% reduction in the number of trains
The Dongdaemun area, which is the transportation hub for the Seoul Train Depot, Gyeongchun Railway, Seoul Transportation Company, and Seoul Trolleys, was not affected at all by the flooding, as appropriate measures were taken. Seoul Railway's dispatch of train cars, which was to be reduced by 20% on the 6th, was restored without any inconvenience to the city residents.
Telephone lines in Seoul partially damaged, but steadily restored
The rains of the 5th caused partial damage to the telephone lines in Seoul, but by noon of the 6th, most of the lines had been restored thanks to the efforts of the Bureau of Telecommunications. The damage in Seoul included flooding of cables at the Yongsan Branch Office, and some malfunctions in the main branch office and outside lines, for which the restoration work is progressing extremely well with all the engineering staff mobilized, and there were no accidents on any of the city's outside lines.
Although there were some problems with the transport system, the results of the training the Bureau of Telecommunications had received in the past were put to good use, and the prompt emergency measures taken by the Bureau in the midst of Holy War ensured that the telecommunications team was not affected in the slightest.
Complete recovery this morning, Jongno Police Station reporting
The number of flooded houses in the jurisdiction of Jongno Police Station in Seoul was 2,439, of which 12 were destroyed, 5 were swept away, and 1 person was killed, but the damage was limited to the northern foot of the mountains and the Cheonggyecheon riverfront. The survivors were temporarily housed in the auditoriums of Sookmyung High School, Maedong National School, and other schools on the 5th, but thanks to the efforts of the defense brigade, everything was restored on the morning of the 6th.
Defense team in action, Honmachi Police Station reporting
In the Hommachi Precinct, damage was minimized to the extent that some houses slumped due to the relatively elevated conical shape of the hill, thanks to the efforts of all the members of the Defense Brigade and the Patriotic Groups.
Surprisingly minor damage, Seongdong Police Station Reporting
The flooding in the Seongdong district in the eastern part of Seoul was expected to cause considerable damage due to its low location, but the damage was less severe than expected, and all of the affected residents returned to their homes early in the morning of the 6th. They are now vigorously working to clean up their household goods and restore their fields.
Take Care of Sanitation
Director Amagishi of the Gyeonggi Provincial Sanitation Department speaks of the situation
Seoul was hit by torrential rains on the afternoon of the 5th, and an outbreak of epidemics is expected to occur soon due to the accumulation of contaminated materials everywhere. However, since the outbreak of infectious diseases in the normal year has been extremely low, the Gyeonggi Provincial Sanitation Department has decided to conduct a temporary post-rain cleanup in the near future to ensure epidemic prevention. On August 6, Director Amagishi of the province's Sanitation Department spoke as follows.
"We are happy that the heavy rains have washed away the dirt curtains on the mountain, but it is a problem that the sewage has flowed into the town, creating a convenient condition for the outbreak of infectious diseases. We are planning to conduct a temporary cleanup in the near future, but I would rather that the residents of the province themselves take care of their own sanitation. In addition to disinfecting wells and cleaning houses, the best way to practice simple hygiene is to wash your hands first. If possible, wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Shigella bacteria can pass through about 30 sheets of paper with no problem, so not washing your hands is the most dangerous thing you can do.
In addition, children, in particular, should not neglect to wash their hands because many parasites can be found under their fingernails. The statistics often prove that washing hands is effective to some extent in preventing disease. In addition, I think we must also encourage people to get vaccination shots and take preventive medication, which is something we must all keep in mind as we have more opportunities to eat out."
[Photo: Mr. Amagishi, Director of the Department]
A hundred yen for the victims
One gentleman deposited the money at a police stall
On the morning of the 6th, a gentleman visited the police stall in Naeja-dong, Seoul, and offered 100 yen, saying, "Please spend it for the victims of the flood", and left without leaving his name. Upon investigation by the Jongno Police Department, they found out that this exceptional gentleman was Kim Sun-heung (김순흥/金淳興), who lives at 167 Naeja-dong.
No damage to the county (gun)
According to the Director Miwa of the Provincial Defense Division
Director Miwa of Gyeonggi Province's Defense Division described the flood damage as follows [Photo: Director Miwa of Defense Division].
The flooding on the morning of the 5th was only a minor flood compared to the great floods of 1940. The fact that the damage was centered in the urban center and did not extend into the county areas was due to the fact that this was a developed city, and the other regions were probably rather happy to receive the rain.
The fact that we have not heard of any damage in other regions so far is also evidence that there has been no major damage. The cause of the flooding was that the Cheonggyecheon and other rivers that flowed through Seoul overflowed due to the heavy rainfall in a short period of time, and the water flowed into the city center.
The main areas affected were the riverfronts and the low-lying areas of Donam-dong, Samcheong-dong, and Seongdong-dong, but the rest of the city was not affected in any way different from normal. The provincial authorities need to consider future civil engineering measures based on this experience, and I hope that the people of the province will learn from this flood disaster and study the drainage outlets carefully and think about how to deflect nature's fury so that both the public and private sectors can avoid further damage to infrastructure in the home front.
[Photo: Director Miwa of Defense Division]
A splendid story of police officers which unfolded in the torrential downpour
The heavy rains of the 5th showed the remarkable activities of the members of the National Disaster Prevention Team and the Youth Corps in all areas. The members of the Dongdaemun Police Brigade No. 2, both the defense and the poison prevention sections, were led by Captains Kunimoto and Tanari to follow drainage work in Chungsin-dong until 1:00 a.m. on June 6. Ōyama Hitoto, a member of the same defense and poison prevention sections, and Tano Osamu, a member of the rescue section, heard the news that their houses were being flooded every minute, but together with Deputy Commander Matsumoto, they remained at the headquarters in Jongno 5-chōme as liaison officers until the end, demonstrating their splendid defense spirit.
Relief Fund from Donors
Hamamura Tamanosuke of 33 Hap-dong, who has long served as the third ward leader while providing aid to the needy, gave 100 yen as part of the relief fund to the more than 300 people who were affected by the torrential rain on the 5th, and delighted the recipients of the funds.
Mr. Mamiya Mitsuji, the leader of the 10th patriotic group of the second ward of the town council, also gave 100 yen to the victims.
Temporary cleanliness inspections of flooded houses
Conducted at Dongdaemun Police Station
In order to quickly curb the epidemic that would hit the city after the heavy rain, on the 6th, the Sanitation Section of the Dongdaemun Police Station immediately ordered each dispatch station in the district to conduct a survey of flooded houses and conduct temporary cleanliness inspections only in those areas. At the same time, all pharmacies in the area were ordered to prepare phenol and other disinfectants.
The inspections will be carried out within the next two to three days.
Hope for self-reliance
Provincial Governor Taka makes a request to the victims
Gyeonggi Province has been providing relief for the victims of the torrential rains that hit the Seoul area on the 5th by spending a considerable amount of money from the Seoul and provincial government's joint enhanced crop disaster emergency relief fund, and has placed the victims in six locations, including Sookmyung High School, Maedong National School and Donam Town Hall. In addition to providing shared meals, they have taken all possible measures, including lending clothes collected from each town council. The governor of Gyeonggi Province, Mr. Taka, made the following remarks on the 6th.
"This disaster is not even close to being classified as a flood disaster, but I sincerely regret that so many people have been affected. I am also grateful for the fact that the public and private sectors worked together to restore normalcy without any major problems as soon as the disaster occurred.
While the authorities are taking all possible measures to rescue the affected people, I sincerely hope that the victims themselves will not rely solely on the government's relief measures, but will exert a spirit of self-reliance to overcome this difficult situation."
Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-08-07
(Transcription)
京城日報 1942年8月7日
天恵豊か穀倉半島
五日全鮮を包んだ覆盆の雨
雨が降った。がっくりと口を開けた水田に水を引けよ！稲を植えようと雨が降った。五日朝から全鮮をつつんで降りだした生拡敢闘の慈雨は、南鮮、北鮮とも午後に至ってもなお降り止まず、平北のごときは貫に三百二十ミリを突破する大雨量を示し、穀倉半島に使命完遂の喜びが谺する空の下では家屋の倒壊、人畜の軽微な被害を尻目に、臣民という農民は水田に飛び出し畑に飛び出し、いま懸命の鍬を振り出した。今年の米を保証づけてこれた各地の降雨量と、家屋、人畜の被害を拾っている。
中北鮮の水害
防護課への情報
六日警務局防護課に達した中北鮮の水害状況は次の通り。
負傷京畿七名▲死者京畿十名、咸南三名▲行方不明七名▲流失京畿九戸、咸南十戸▲倒潰京畿二十八戸、咸南十二戸▲浸水京畿七九八八戸、咸南二九〇六戸、平南二十戸、平北二三〇〇戸▲雨量（単位ミリ）京畿一六九、咸南一四二▲平南多量、平北三二三、黄海七八、全南、慶南、江原ナシ、咸北五～一三、忠南ナシ、全北一五〇～二〇〇
逓信防護団の奮闘
雨中に甲斐甲斐しい働き振り
京城府内清渓川に流れた濁水は光化門通に溢れ出て逓信局保健監理課の庁舎地下室に侵入、五日午後一時ごろには同室の倉庫までにも水がどんどんと滲みこんだ。ここに起ちあがった逓信局特設防護団員は折柄の豪雨を衝いて金庫、書類の持ち出し作業に出動。雨がやんでからは排水作業に甲斐甲斐しい働きを見せ、六日も早朝から小川保健監理課長が陣頭に立って団員を督励、リレー式による書類の整備や排水工事に職場防護団の威力を遺憾なく発揮して日頃の訓練の手並を見せた。
交通陣は大丈夫
電車二割減も復旧す
京電車庫、京春鉄道、京城交通会社、京城軌道等の交通起点を管内に置いている東大門方面は増水と共に適宜な措置をとったため、この方面の被害は全くなく、京電の六日における二割減見当ての配車も見事復旧して府民の足には何らの不便も感じさせなかった。
府内電話線一部に障害、着々復旧す
五日の雨で京城府内の電話線は一部の障害を起こしたが、逓信局の懸命の努力により六日正午には殆ど復旧をみた。被害状況は京城府内で先ず龍山分局のケーブルに浸水さらに本分局、外線に一部の故障があったのを工務課技術員が総動員で極めて順調に復旧工事が進んでいるが、市外線には一切事故がなかった。
なお逓送関係には、やや不円滑なものがあったが、逓信局が平素鍛えた訓練の成果をここに発揮敏速な非常措置によって聖戦下逓信陣は少しの揺らぎもない。
けさ全く復旧、鐘路署管内
京城鐘路署管内の浸水家屋は二、四三九戸、破壊十二戸、流失五戸、死者一名を出したが、被害は北部の山麓、清渓川沿岸が被っただけであとは格別のことなく、罹災者は五日淑明高女、梅洞国民学校をはじめ学校の講堂に一時収容したが、警防団の活躍により六日朝すでに悉く復旧した。
防護団活躍、本町署管内
本町署管内は比較的高台の錐形と防護団、愛国班員総動員の活躍によって、一部家屋が傾斜した程度で被害を最小限に食い止めた。
意外に軽微、城東署管内
京城の東部城東地区の水害は土地柄の低さから相当の被害が予想されていたが、思ったより少なく十六日早朝罹災民の全部は各自家庭に引き揚げて水害による家財の整理、田畑の手入りに復旧に雄々しく起ち上っている。
衛生に気をつけよ
天岸京畿道衛生課長は語る
五日午後豪雨に見舞われた京城は到る處、汚染物の集積で早くも悪疫の発生が予想されているが、平年度の伝染病発生状況が極めて低く良成績を納めているので、京畿道衛生課では近く雨後の臨時大清掃を施行して防疫に万全を期することとなった。六日道天岸衛生課長は右について次の通り語った。
この大雨で山の上の土幕がすっかり洗われたことは嬉しいが、その汚水が町に流れて伝染病の発生に都合のよい状態となったことは困りものだ。近く臨時大清掃をやるつもりだが、それよりも府民自身が衛生に留意して欲しい。井戸の消毒、家屋の清掃は勿論のこと、先ず簡易衛生としては手を洗うことが一番よい。できることなら用便のあとは石鹸で手を洗うことだ。赤痢菌は用紙三十枚位は平気で通るから手を洗わずにいるのは最も危険である。
また爪の中には沢山の寄生虫がひそんでいるから特に子供らには手を洗わせることを怠ってはならない。この手を洗うことである程度の防疫が可能であることは、よくその数字が証明している。その他、予防注射、予防薬服用の励行等は外部で食事を執る機会の多くなった昨今において、ぜひ共心得て置かねばならないことだと思う。
【写真＝天岸課長】
罹災者へ百円也
一紳士が交番へ寄託
六日朝京城内資町交番を訪れた一紳士が百円を差し出して『どうか水害の罹災民のためにお使い下さい』といい残したまま名もつけずに立ち去ったのを鐘路署で内査した結果、その奇特なる紳士は内資町一六七金淳興氏と判った。
郡部に被害なし
三輪道防護課長談
京畿道三輪防護課長は水害について左の如く語った【写真＝三輪防護課長】
五日朝の出水状況はさる昭和十五年の大水害に比べれば子供ほど差のある小水害に過ぎない。被害は都心地帯を中心として郡部に及ばなかったのも、完成した都市なるが故の水害であって、他地方ではむしろこの雨を喜んでいたぐらいだろう。
今のところ地方の損害を耳にしていないのも大した被害のない証拠だ。水害の原因は京城内を貫流する清渓川その他の河川が短時間に部厚く降り注いだ雨のために溢れて市街地に流れ出したが、現在京城府が施設している排水溝ではどうにもこの水が捌け切れず、一瞬に洪水の様相を呈したものだった。
被害地の主な所は、各河川の沿岸地、低地の敦岩町、三清町、城東方面が表面に現れているが、他は平生と異なることがなかった。道当局としてもこの経験に基いて今後の府土木対策に一検討を加える必要があるわけだが、今回の水害に懲りて府民もよく排水口の研究を行い自然の暴威を如何に外らすかを考えて、官民共に銃後資材に少しでも損害を深めぬよう緊張して貰いたいと思う。
天晴れ警防団員、豪雨中に咲いた佳話
五日の豪雨に各方面とも警防団員、青年隊員のめざましい活躍に頼もしい場面を見せたが、その中でも東大門警防団第二分団警護、防毒両部員は国本、田成両部長に引率されて六日午前一時まで忠信町方面の排水工事に従い、また同団防毒部員大山一青、同救護部員田能磨の両君は自宅が刻々浸水しつつある報を耳にしながら松本副団長とともに鐘路五丁目の分団本部に最後まで連絡員として踏み止まり天晴れ警防精神を発揮した。
篤志家から救護基金
蛤町三三浜村玉之助は同町会の第三区長をつとめながら再三窮細民に救済の手を差し伸べている陰の篤志家であるが、五日の豪雨によって被害を蒙った罹災民三百余名に対し救護基金の一部として金百円を贈り関係者を感激させた。
なお同町会第二区第十班長間宮光次氏も同じく金百円を贈り罹災者を見舞った。
浸水家屋の臨時清潔検査
東大門署で実施
大雨後の街を襲う悪疫に早くも締め出しを食わせるため東大門署衛生係では六日直ちに管内の各派出所に命じて浸水家屋の調査を行わせ、その部分だけに臨時清潔検査を施行することとなったが、同時に管内各薬店に対して石炭酸その他の消毒薬整備を命じた。
なお施行は二、三日中に行われる。
自力更生を望む
高知事罹災者に要望む
五日京城地方を襲った豪雨による罹災者救助に京畿道では京城府と協力道府強権凶歉救済費から相当額を支出して救護に当るとともに罹災者を淑明高女、梅洞国民学校、敦岩町会事務所など六ケ所に収容。共同炊事を行うほか近隣の各町会から衣類を借り集めて貸与するなど万全の対策を講じているが、右につき高京畿道知事は六日左の如く語る。
今回の災難は水害の部類にも入らないほどだが、罹災者の出たことには衷心遺憾に思う。また災害発生と同時に官民一致協力して別段大したことなく平常に復旧されたことは全く感謝のほかはない。
罹災民の救助については当局でも万全の対策を講じているが、罹災者自身もあまり官庁の救済策にのみ頼らず、自力更生の精神を発揮してこの難関を突破するよう邁進されんことを切望する。
自力更生を望む
高知事罹災者に要望む
五日京城地方を襲った豪雨による罹災者救助に京畿道では京城府と協力道府強権凶歉救済費から相当額を支出して救護に当るとともに罹災者を淑明高女、梅洞国民学校、敦岩町会事務所など六ケ所に収容。共同炊事を行うほか近隣の各町会から衣類を借り集めて貸与するなど万全の対策を講じているが、右につき高京畿道知事は六日左の如く語る。
今回の災難は水害の部類にも入らないほどだが、罹災者の出たことには衷心遺憾に思う。また災害発生と同時に官民一致協力して別段大したことなく平常に復旧されたことは全く感謝のほかはない。
罹災民の救助については当局でも万全の対策を講じているが、罹災者自身もあまり官庁の救済策にのみ頼らず、自力更生の精神を発揮してこの難関を突破するよう邁進されんことを切望する。
Provincial Governor Taka makes a request to the victims
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