Gwangju and Jeonnam Hit by 'Water Bomb' Damage... Subway and Farmland Flooded

Heavy rain exceeding 300mm over four days fell in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions. Property damage such as flooding and facility destruction also occurred one after another.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 6th, the cumulative rainfall from the 3rd to 6 a.m. on the day was recorded as 341mm in Naro Island, Goheung; 338mm in Gwansan, Jangheung; 336.5mm in Bukil, Haenam; 290mm in Bogildo, Wando; 273mm in Baegunsan, Gwangyang; 228.4mm in Wando; 178.6mm in Gwangju; and 110.1mm in Mokpo.

The heavy rain advisory was issued on the 3rd and was all lifted the previous night, and currently, only some parts of Jeonnam are experiencing rainfall of 1 to 3mm per hour.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The heavy rain caused significant damage, including farmland being submerged.

So far, it has been tentatively estimated that 175 hectares of rice paddies (133 hectares in Goheung, 40 hectares in Gangjin, 2 hectares in Boseong) and 525 hectares of wheat and barley (350 hectares in Boseong, 100 hectares in Gangjin, 70 hectares in Jangheung, 5 hectares in Goheung) have been flooded.

In Samsan-ri, Gundo-myeon, Gangjin County, soil was washed out on National Road No. 23, and incidents of road flooding and fallen street trees occurred.

In Yongjeon-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, the city gas pipeline was flooded, causing gas supply to stop for 280 households in Yongjeon Village.

In Pungyeongjeongcheon, Jangdeok-dong, Gwangsan-gu, oil flowed in from a nearby sewer, prompting firefighters to install oil fences and carry out containment work.

The previous day, muddy water flooded the concourse of Airport Station on Gwangju Subway Line 1, causing trains to pass through without stopping for about an hour.

On the same day, power supply was cut off for about 2 hours and 20 minutes to 772 households in apartment complexes and commercial buildings around Samgak-dong, Buk-gu.

This heavy rain greatly helped alleviate the drought.

In five island areas of Wando (Nohwa, Bogil, Geumil, Soan, Nohwa, and Neopdo) that had been suffering from severe drought, water supply restrictions are expected to be lifted sequentially.

The reservoir level of Juam Dam, a major local water source, was only 20.8% before the rain but rose to 27.5% that morning. The reservoir level of Dongbok Dam also increased from 21% to 28.7%.