Typhoon wreaks havoc on Korea

Page last updated on: Thursday, August 30, 2012

As the powerful storm Typhoon Bolaven battered South Korea radio amateurs joined the response and recovery efforts to minimise the toll and damage. The state disaster management agency reported deaths as the storm, the strongest to hit the country for almost a decade, left nearly 200,000 homes without power and property damage. From the Korean Amateur Radio League, Yong-Surke Lee HL1FB said the 2-metre repeater D90IK on a 535m high mountain with coverage of at least 100km was used for emergency communication on the day the storm hit. Lee said "The control station 6K2BUF was in charge as the effort was maintained. Operators were able to contact stations to get the disaster information relayed and report them to the authority. "Some areas had power outage so battery operated 2m radios were used. DS2HBX went up to  the repeater site and had a gasoline engine generator ready in case for power outage." There were media reports of widespread damage this week in the less prepared North Korea. While South Korea is engaged in a big clean up a close watch is being kept should another storm Typhoon Tembin which was moving over the Yellow Sea. Jim Linton VK3PCChairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee, with Yong-Surke Lee HL1FB Source from Southgate Amateur Radio News