Rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake triggers 286 reports of property damage, 17 aftershocks

Social Affairs

Published: 13 Jun. 2024, 12:13 Updated: 13 Jun. 2024, 18:40

Rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake triggers 286 reports of property damage, 17 aftershocks

Broken tiles are seen near Gyehwa-myeon, Buan, North Jelloa, on Wednesday following a 4.8-magnitude earthquake. [YONHAP]

More damage reports emerged overnight after a rare 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck Buan, North Jeolla, on Wednesday morning.

As of 2:00 p.m. Thursday, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters received 286 reports of property damage, an increase of over 100 reports from the previous night's count of 159.

The earthquake in Buan, which had an estimated depth of eight kilometers (five miles), was the most powerful quake detected in Korea this year, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Buan in North Jeolla had the highest number of reports at 245, followed by Jeongeup with 19, Gochang with eight, Gunsan with four, Iksan and Sunchang each with three, Gimje and Jeonju each with two and Gwangju with one.

The damage primarily included cracked walls, broken windows and malfunctioning doors that could not be opened.

Cultural assets in Buan were also affected, with reports of damage including the main Buddha Hall in Naesosa Temple, Guam-ri Dolmens and the Buddha statue at Gaeam Temple.

The National Fire Agency confirmed that no casualties or injuries had been reported.

Following the initial quake at 8:26 a.m. on Wednesday, 17 aftershocks had occurred by 6 p.m. The strongest aftershock was measured at a magnitude of 3.1, but most were micro-earthquakes measuring below magnitude 2.0.

The aftershocks were felt in various regions, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong.

Students of Hwaseong Banwol Middle School participate in an earthquake evacuation drill at Gyeonggi-do Safety Experience Center in Osan, Gyeonggi on Thursday.

Officials including Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young and the head of the Buan County office Kwon Ik-hyun visited the earthquake-affected area on Thursday to comfort residents and assess the damage.

A support center was set up in Buan to assist earthquake victims in alleviating anxiety and returning to their normal lives.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]