[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] On the 8th, torrential rain equivalent to a deluge poured down across the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul and Incheon, causing severe chaos such as flooding, power outages, and road closures in various locations.
Due to the heavy rain that day, the area around Gangnam Station and Daechi Station intersection in Seoul was flooded with water reaching above people's ankles on both roads and sidewalks, and Yangjaecheon also rose enough to cover the walking paths. Around 9 PM, stores inside the Gangnam Express Bus Terminal were flooded, and leaks occurred in the library and cafe stores inside COEX in Samseong-dong.
Subway Line 1 stations such as Yeongdeungpo Station, Oryu Station, and Geumcheon-gu Office Station experienced train stoppages or delays. Gwanak-gu issued a notice around 9:26 PM stating, "Dorimcheon is flooding, so residents in low-lying areas are requested to evacuate quickly to a safe place." A landslide warning was also issued at 9 PM.
The entire section of Dongbu Expressway (Surak Underpass to Seongsu JC) has been fully closed since 6:30 PM. The Han River Flood Control Office issued a flood advisory around 9:40 PM for Daegokgyo Bridge (Gangnam-gu), and flood advisories were also issued for Ogeumgyo Bridge (Seoul), Jungnanggyo Bridge (Seoul), and Jingwangu Bridge (Namyangju, Gyeonggi). A flood warning has been issued for Yeongcheon Bridge on the Yeongpyeongcheon tributary of the Hantan River in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.
The number of areas under heavy rain warnings is also increasing. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued heavy rain warnings for Suwon, Yongin, Osan, Icheon, and Yeoju as of 9 PM. Heavy rain warnings are also in effect for Incheon and Ganghwa-do. Heavy rain warnings are issued when the expected rainfall exceeds 90mm in 3 hours or 180mm in 12 hours. The rain is so heavy that it is difficult to see ahead, and caution is required for accidents such as flooding.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of 9 PM, heavy rain special warnings are in effect for the metropolitan area and inland/mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, with some places, mainly in southern Seoul, experiencing very heavy rain exceeding 100mm per hour accompanied by thunder and lightning. The rainfall amounts at major points (from 00:00 to 21:00 on the 8th, unit: mm) are as follows: Meteorological Administration (Seoul) 288.0, Gwangmyeong 241.5, Bucheon 224.5, Gapyeong Jojong 193.5, Bupyeong (Incheon) 192.5, Seoul 92.4, etc. In Gangwon Province, Dong Song (Cheorwon) 158.0, Sanae (Hwacheon) 143.0, Nami Island (Chuncheon) 123.0, Coastal (Yanggu) 106.0, and other locations received over 100mm of rain. The Meteorological Administration stated, "As the stationary front moves north and south mainly over the central region, with a narrow north-south width and a long east-west rain cloud band being introduced, some areas will experience very heavy rain exceeding 50-80mm per hour accompanied by thunder and lightning."
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