Island of Miracles: 198 People Survived on a Water Tank
Creatrip Team
24 days ago
A 617m suspension bridge, the Sireu Island ‘Miracle Bridge’, opened in Danyang on Aug. 19, becoming South Korea’s longest (surpassing a 600m bridge). More significant is Sireu Island’s history: in the 1972 Typhoon Bess, rising waters cut the island off and about 199 people took refuge on top of a 6m-high, 20㎡ water tank (a cramped survival scene likened to 200 people in an 84㎡ apartment). They held linked arms for 14 hours until rescue; 4 died and 3 went missing. Once home to about 250 residents and many mulberry groves for sericulture (silk farming), the island shrank after the 1985 Chungju Dam and is now uninhabited. The new bridge is purple (symbolizing healing) and links visitors to an interpretation center with a statue commemorating a mother who lost her infant in the flood. Nearby attractions include Mancheonha Skywalk, the cliffside Danyang River trail (Danyanggang Jando), the prehistoric Suyanggae exhibition (with artifacts found during dam construction), the colorful Suyanggae Light Tunnel (a former Japanese-built rail tunnel), and Danyang Market’s famous garlic foods and garlic ice cream. The bridge is free until around October; opening hours and admission fees apply for nearby sites.
