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Long-term psychological monitoring of survivors and bereaved families from the July 15, 2023, Osong underpass disaster reveals that a significant majority continue to suffer from chronic mental health conditions over two years after the event.
Longitudinal Psychological Impact of the Osong Disaster
The study tracked 39 survivors, bereaved family members, and their relatives through seven survey rounds beginning in November 2023. Researchers utilized standardized clinical criteria to measure psychological distress at three-to-five-month intervals.
In the initial November 2023 assessment, 69.2% of respondents scored above the clinical threshold for PTSD, indicating a level of impairment that significantly disrupts daily functioning and professional life. While this figure fluctuated—dropping to 50% in early 2024 before rising to 63.3% immediately following the first anniversary of the disaster—the most recent data shows a persistent 61% rate. Researchers categorized this trend as an entry into the chronic phase of post-traumatic psychological sequelae.
Depressive symptoms follow a similar pattern. After an initial prevalence of 56.4%, reported symptoms dipped to between 40% and 48% throughout 2025, but have recently surged back to 61%. Furthermore, symptoms of "bereavement grief"—characterized by intense longing for the deceased—remained elevated at 88% in the most recent findings, after a period of relative decline.
Suicidal Ideation and Social Isolation
The report highlights a critical need for sustained mental health intervention. When surveyed regarding self-harm, 13% of respondents reported experiencing recent suicidal ideation, while 4% indicated they had formulated specific plans for self-harm.
Beyond clinical diagnosis, participants identified significant social stressors hindering their recovery. The most frequently cited challenges included:
- Employment instability: The ongoing difficulty of maintaining or securing steady work following the disaster.
- Social isolation: A profound sense of loneliness and disconnection from their communities.
- Stigmatization: Reports of encountering hate speech or discriminatory language from local media, administrative bodies, and social networks.
Lack of Institutional Accountability
The report underscores a stark disconnect between the survivors’ needs for justice and the perceived response from authorities. Every participant in the study reported that they had not received a formal apology from those responsible for the disaster. Additionally, all respondents stated that those responsible have yet to face appropriate legal consequences or accept accountability for the flooding of the underpass.
More than 90% of those surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with the support provided by government and municipal authorities. While respondents noted a perceived improvement in general societal attitudes toward disaster prevention and victim protection compared to previous administrative periods, 78% remained critical of the current national disaster response system.
The findings suggest that the psychological recovery of the Osong disaster victims remains stalled, complicated by both the chronic nature of their trauma and a pervasive feeling that the institutional response to the tragedy has failed to provide closure or accountability.
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