Embankment Collapse and Seomjin River Flooding... Gurye-eup Becomes an Underwater City

The scene of Gure-eup, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, where more than 500mm of heavy rain poured due to concentrated heavy rainfall. Photo by a reader

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] In Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, where more than 500mm of heavy rain poured, the Seomjin River overflowed, flooding entire villages and causing a surge in disaster victims.

According to the Jeollanam-do Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 8th, about 300 residents from Gurye-eup, Ganjeon-myeon, Toji-myeon, and Masan-myeon evacuated to welfare facilities or nearby schools.

On the morning of the same day, the Seomjin River Seosi Stream embankment collapsed and overflowed, flooding various parts of Gurye-eup starting from Songjeong-ri in Toji-myeon. Earlier, the Seomjin River Dam located in Gangjin-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, opened all sluice gates from 10:30 a.m. and discharged 1,700 tons of water per second.

Some parts of the bridge connecting Gurye-gun and Suncheon-si were also washed away, leading to traffic control in the area.

According to Gurye-gun on the 8th, at around 1:10 p.m., part of the Seosi 1 Bridge facility in Bongdong-ri, Gurye-eup, collapsed, and vehicle traffic in the area is completely restricted.

The heavy rain raised the river water level, causing the embankment to collapse, and the overflowing water flowed onto the bridge, washing away the connecting slab, creating holes and leading to the collapse of the facility.

Gurye-gun is guiding residents to evacuate to nearby Gurye High School and Gurye Girls' Middle School through emergency disaster texts and broadcasts.

From the previous day until 6 p.m. on the same day, the rainfall in Gurye-eup recorded 351.5mm.