[Breaking] Heavy Rain Causes North Korea Releases... Imjingang Pilsunggyo & Gunnam Dam Reach 'Highest Water Levels'

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 5th, the water levels at Pilsunggyo Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjingang River, and the Gunnam Dam surpassed historic highs.

Pilsunggyo Bridge is located inside the southern limit line of the frontline, making it a critical point where North Korean water releases are first observed, and Gunnam Dam is an important facility controlling floods on the Imjingang River. Disaster authorities raised the crisis response level to the highest and issued evacuation orders to residents in the low-lying areas of the Imjingang River basin in Yeoncheon and Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

According to real-time data from the Hangang Flood Control Office, the water level at Pilsunggyo Bridge was recorded at 12.99 meters at 9 PM on the same day. This is the highest water level ever recorded, surpassing even the highest crisis response level. Fortunately, after peaking at 13.12 meters at 8:10 PM, the water level has started to decrease.

The water level at Gunnam Dam also broke the previous record on the same day. Both inflow and outflow volumes reached historic maximums. The water level at Gunnam Dam was recorded at 40.14 meters at 9 PM, exceeding the planned flood level of 40 meters. An inflow of 13,622 tons per second is being discharged at 13,756 tons per second.

Currently, the Korea Water Resources Corporation’s Gunnam Dam management team is controlling the Imjingang River water level by opening all 13 sluice gates to a height of 31 meters.

As the water levels at Pilsunggyo Bridge and Gunnam Dam reached historic highs and the Imjingang River water level peaked, residents in low-lying areas evacuated urgently in preparation for any emergencies.

In Paju City and Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, evacuation orders were issued to residents in low-lying areas after a flood warning was issued at the crisis response alert level due to the rapid rise in water level at Pilsunggyo Bridge in the afternoon.