[Breaking News] Flooding at Hwagaejangteo Market Due to Over 300mm Heavy Rain... Continuous Rain Damage in Gyeongnam

Hadong Hwagae Market in Gyeongnam was flooded. Photo by Gyeongnam Province

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] On the 8th, heavy rain exceeding 300mm fell in Gyeongnam, causing residents to evacuate and flooding on roads in various areas, resulting in continuous damage.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of 10 a.m. that day, Gyeongnam recorded rainfall amounts of 295.7mm in Sancheong, 256.5mm in Hamyang, 211.7mm in Geoje, 208.2mm in Geochang, 207.2mm in Hapcheon, 180.8mm in Jinju, 148.5mm in Uiryeong, 117mm in Tongyeong, and 115.5mm in Hadong.

In particular, Jirisan received a staggering 383mm of heavy rain, and Hadong-gun's Hwagae-myeon also saw a large amount of rain at 349mm.

Heavy rain warnings are in effect for 10 cities and counties including Tongyeong, Geoje, Hadong, Sancheong, Hapcheon, Uiryeong, Changnyeong, Geochang, Hamyang, and Jinju, while heavy rain advisories are issued for 5 cities and counties including Changwon, Yangsan, Gimhae, Miryang, and Haman.

Due to the heavy rain, residents in some areas evacuated, and flooding damage on roads continued.

In Hadong, 19 residents from Hadong-eup and Gojeon-myeon and 14 campers evacuated.

The Hwagae Market in Tap-ri, Hwagae-myeon, Hadong, famous as a symbol of Yeonghonam exchange marketplace, was flooded around 10 p.m. on the 7th and access is currently restricted.

Also, parts of National Road No. 19, county roads, and rural roads passing through Hadong were flooded.

The road from Hadong-eup to Hwagae-myeon is completely closed due to flooding.

On the morning of the 8th, the lower roads under Jinju Bridge and Jinyang Bridge in Jinju were flooded.

At around 2:40 a.m., in Okbong-dong, Jinju-si, soil collapsed onto the road, covering vehicles.

Gyeongnam Province explained that public facility damage has been recorded, including 16 cases of road flooding, 2 cases of soil collapse, and 1 case of pavement damage.

Emergency repairs and road controls are currently underway at 12 locations.

Meanwhile, a flood warning has been issued for Namgang Gyeongho Bridge in Sancheong, and flood advisories have been issued for Samrangjin Bridge on the Nakdong River in Miryang, Gyeonaeri in Chilseo-myeon, Haman-gun, and Hwanggang Bridge in Hapcheon-gun.

The Nakdong River Flood Control Office urged residents in downstream dam areas to exercise special caution.