On the 9th, a road near the College of Education at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, collapsed due to record-breaking heavy rain in the central region including the metropolitan area. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Due to heavy rain in the central region, railway and road transportation networks were paralyzed, but some sections resumed operation after overnight work. Subway and air travel are operating normally.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 10th that Minister Won Hee-ryong convened an emergency situation inspection meeting after conducting an urgent inspection of heavy rain damage areas such as Geumcheon Station and Gwangmyeong Station on the afternoon of the 9th to check real-time damage, recovery status, and emergency response posture.
As of 11 p.m. on the 9th, the entire traffic on National Road No. 3 in the Yeoncheon-gun area and the 14.4 km section toward Wonju on the Gwangju-Wonju Expressway was fully restored through recovery work.
Emergency repairs are underway promptly near Seopangyo IC on the Yongin-Seoul line, in Hwaseong City on National Road No. 43, and in Hapgang-ri, Inje on National Road No. 31.
On the railway, additional flooding damage occurred on the track at Hwajeong Station on the Ilsan Line (around 5:26 p.m. on the 9th), but normal operation resumed 1 hour and 14 minutes later through restoration work.
From 6:10 a.m. on the 10th, two-way vehicle traffic resumed on the entire Dongbu Expressway and the section from Majang Ramp to Seongdong JC on the Internal Circulation Road.
As of 7 a.m., there are two sections on Seoul urban expressways where two-way traffic control is in place: ▲ Banpo-daero Jamsugyo Bridge ▲ Olympic-daero from Gayang Bridge to Dongjak Bridge.
One-way control sections include two locations: Gangbyeonbuk-ro from Mapo Bridge to Hangang Bridge, and from Dongjak Bridge to Hangang Bridge.
Currently, no damage has been reported in aviation.
Additionally, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is securing the quantity of 'emergency support housing' within the metropolitan area to provide safe and comfortable living spaces for flood victims through an emergency housing support team immediately formed after the heavy rain situation occurred.
Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (center), convened an emergency situation inspection meeting after completing an urgent inspection of heavy rain damage areas such as Geumcheon Station and Gwangmyeong Station on the afternoon of the 9th, checking real-time damage and recovery status as well as emergency response readiness. Minister Won Hee-ryong said, "When trains stop and stations are flooded, it is like blood vessels being blocked," adding, "Abnormal weather due to climate change may occur frequently in the future. We must strengthen railway facilities to withstand disasters at levels we have never experienced before."
He emphasized, "Even in areas prone to flooding, urgent and strong measures must be established and implemented to prevent flooding from happening again," and "We must also make every effort to prevent safety accidents during the ongoing response to continuous heavy rain."
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