Heavy Rain After 80 Years, Difficult Commute... Line 9 Nodul~Sapyeong Station Service Suspended

Line 9 Express Service Suspended, Dongjak and Gubanpo Stations Flooded
Roads Partially Closed Due to Rising Han River Water Levels
Public Institutions Adjust Work Start Time to 11 AM
7 Dead, 6 Missing, Over 750 Homes and Businesses Flooded
Up to 300mm of Rain Expected in Seoul Metropolitan Area Until the 10th

On the 9th, a notice informing that Dongjak Station on Subway Line 9 is closed due to flooding was posted at Dongjak Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Record-breaking heavy rain in 80 years paralyzed many parts of the city. The subway stations and tracks were flooded, causing a temporary suspension of Line 9 operations, and rising water levels in the Han River led to road closures, resulting in a commuting chaos.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Seoul city as of 8 a.m. on the 9th, the operation of express trains on Line 9 was suspended due to restoration work on flooded tracks at some stations. Regular trains are not operating at Nodeul Station, Heukseok Station, Dongjak Station, Sinbanpo Station, Express Bus Terminal Station, and Sapyeong Station, and are running in two sections: Gaehwa to Noryangjin Station and Sinnonhyeon to Jungang Veterans Station. Seoul Subway Lines 1 to 8 are operating normally.

Seoul Metro Line 9 stated, "Rainwater entered through the outside entrance of Dongjak Station, flooding the concourse and platform, and the rainwater flowed along the tracks to Gubanpo Station, flooding the tracks, causing suspension of operations in some sections from the first train," adding, "We plan to complete maintenance to resume normal operations within the day on the 9th."

From 4:40 a.m., both directions of Gangbyeonbuk-ro between Mapo Bridge and Hangang Bridge were fully closed, and from 2:45 a.m., Olympic-daero between Yeomchang IC and National Cemetery was also fully closed. Dongbu Expressway between Seongsu JC and Gunja Bridge, and Naebu Circular Road between Majang Ramp and Seongdong IC are also closed. Due to the rapid rise in the Han River water level, Olympic-daero is closed between Yeomchang IC and National Cemetery. In total, 82 roads in the metropolitan area are closed, including 10 roads in Seoul, 60 in southern Gyeonggi such as Gwangmyeong Sageori, 10 in northern Gyeonggi such as Guri Wangsukcheon Road, and 2 in Incheon including the underpass of Gyeongin Expressway.

Most public institutions adjusted their start time to 11 a.m. However, since the adjustment of working hours is only a 'recommendation' for private companies, most office workers hurried to work early in the morning from around 6 a.m. Some companies allowed telecommuting if necessary. Although the rain subsided during commuting hours, office workers using public transportation such as subways, buses, and taxis experienced inconvenience. The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a protest on Line 4 during commuting hours, and the public bicycle service 'Ddareungi' was also suspended.

The appearance of a restaurant near Sindebang Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, flooded due to heavy rain overnight on the 9th./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

As of 6 a.m. on the day, 7 people died and 6 were missing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. A woman in her 40s with developmental disabilities living in a semi-basement house in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, her younger sister, and the sister's teenage daughter were found dead. A 60-year-old district office employee in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, died from electrocution while clearing a fallen street tree the previous afternoon. In Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, one person was found dead under the debris of a collapsed bus stop. One person died due to a landslide on a road embankment.

Following the heavy rain of up to 400mm the previous day, more than 300mm of heavy rain is expected again on the 9th in the metropolitan area and other regions. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), as of 7 a.m., very heavy rain of 30 to 50mm per hour is falling mainly in the central region. Areas under strong rain clouds may receive 50 to 100mm per hour. The metropolitan area is experiencing about 40mm per hour in southern Gyeonggi areas such as Yangpyeong, Anseong, and Pyeongtaek, and 30 to 50mm per hour of rain accompanied by gusts, thunder, and lightning in central and southern Gangwon Province. Dangjin, Chungnam Province, is also receiving 10 to 40mm per hour of rain.

The KMA forecasts 100 to 200mm of rain, with some areas receiving over 300mm, in the metropolitan area, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, northern Chungcheong, and northwestern inland Gyeongbuk until the 10th. The east coast of Gangwon, Chungcheong region (except northern part), northern Gyeongbuk (except northwestern inland), and the five western islands will receive 50 to 150mm, while northern Jeonbuk, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo will see about 20 to 80mm. From the 10th, southern Gyeongbuk is expected to receive 20 to 80mm, and southern Jeonbuk and northern Jeonnam about 5 to 30mm. Strong rain is also expected in northern Gyeonggi in the morning. The rain cloud band is narrow north to south but long east to west, moving up and down north to south, causing heavy rain.

The rainfall from the previous day to 9 a.m. on the day was 422mm in Seoul (KMA), 412mm in Sanbuk (Yeoju), 397.5mm in Okcheon (Yangpyeong), 390mm in Gyeonggi Gwangju, 260mm in Cheongil (Hoengseong), and 202mm in Sidong (Hongcheon).