£Û0009£İFive Dead, 21 Missing in Heavy Snow, Storm; 91 Ships Damaged
KOREA TIME 980117 PAGE:03 SECTION:NATIONAL 404WORDS
*3 Filipinos Miraculously Survive Shipwreck
Three Filipinos were rescued by the Maritime Police yesterday after
their ship, a 4,400-ton Panamanian vessel, sank Thursday a half mil
e off the coast of the southeastern port city, Ulsan.
Of the all-Filipino 20-member crew, five are confirmed dead and 12
are missing, officials said.
Among the three, Delfin Narciso, 36 and Miguelito Ewican, 28, were
hospitalized at the Ulsan Hospital while Slicerto Viliacamp, 41, is
currently receiving treatment at Onsan Hospital.
Rescue workers and Maritime Police are reportedly continuing their
search for more possible survivors of the shipwreck.
Meanwhile, the bad weather affecting the country caused estimated d
amage totalling almost 3.39 billion won, the National Disaster Preve
ntion and Countermeasures Headquarters (NDPCH) said yesterday.
Five people died, three were rescued, and 21 others were reported m
issing from the severe snowstorms, winds and high waves which swept
the east and south coastal areas starting from Wednesday, sinking an
d damaging a total of 91 shipping vessels, NDPCH reported.
Some 2,000 vehicles were left stranded from heavy snow on the Yongd
ong Expressway linking Seoul and Kangnung near the east coast for ne
arly 30 hours before police partially lifted the ban on vehicle move
ment late Thursday.
Drivers and passengers alike spent most of the day and night in the
ir vehicles or nearby highway resting stops. .
Government workers and soldiers brought food and provisions to thos
e stranded on the expressway, while a small number of over-eager you
ths were seen riding the snow-covered lanes on their skis to get to
their destined ski resorts, it was learned.
Ski resorts in the northeastern part of the country enjoyed unprece
dented amounts of snowfall eliminating the need for snow equipment t
o maintain ski slopes, reported to cost about 3 million to 10 millio
n won a day in expenses.
Weathermen said Taechongbong, Mt. Sorak's highest peak, recorded th
e heaviest amount of snowfall on Thursday night at 138 cm, followed
by Taegwallyong at 103 cm and Kangnung at 19.5 cm.
Some 20 mountain villages or about 2,000 people continue to be isol
ated in the northeastern area due to the impenetrable blanket of sno
w.
The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) said most of the cou
ntry will see cloudy skies with rain and snow from this afternoon.
The high places in Kangwon-do are warned to expect as much as 20 cm
of snow later today, KMA officials said.
All rights reserved.