'Landslides and Fires Occur One After Another Across Jeonbuk During the Nationwide Monsoon Season'

Three Landslide Collapses in Jeongeup, Namwon, and Wanju...Road Covered with Soil, 'Closed'

Recovery Expected to Take Over a Week...Safety Inspection Conducted Amid Additional Collapse Concerns

Three Firefighters Injured with Burns and Exhau

As the monsoon rains continue nationwide, landslides and fires have occurred one after another in various parts of Jeonbuk region.

According to Jeonbuk Province and the fire department on the 9th, at around 11:45 a.m. the previous day, a slope collapsed at 221-1 San, Sinri, Sang-gwan-myeon, Wanju-gun, covering National Road No. 21 with soil and rocks. There were no casualties as no vehicles were passing at the time of the accident, but the Sang-gwan~Gui Pyeongchon direction was closed.

At around 11:45 a.m. on the 8th, a rockfall and landslide occurred due to a slope collapse on National Road No. 21 near 221-1 Sanri, Sang-gwan-myeon, Wanju-gun. Authorities are conducting emergency restoration work.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Province]

Equipment is being used to remove the rocks from the road, but officials explained that it will take about another week to remove the parts where there is a risk of additional falling rocks. The police are coordinating with explosives blasting to remove the rocks, and after a safety inspection on the 10th, full-scale restoration work is expected to accelerate.

On the same day at around 8:50 a.m., a slope collapse occurred on the road (Local Road No. 60) near 40 San, Hogyeong-ri, Jucheon-myeon, Namwon. Both directions are currently closed, and a restoration plan will be established after a safety inspection on the 10th.

Earlier, at 11:55 p.m. on the 6th, a landslide occurred on the cut slope near Naejang Reservoir in Ssangam-dong, Jeongeup-si, causing rocks and soil from the hill to spill onto the road.

A taxi passing by at the time was buried under the soil, but quick evacuation prevented casualties. Both directions of the road are still closed.

A Jeonbuk Province official said, "The continuous monsoon rains have weakened the ground in many places, especially the cut slopes along roads are highly risky and require extra caution," adding, "We will proceed with restoration work promptly through safety inspections in the collapsed areas."

In addition to landslides, a fire broke out at a food factory, and a firefighter was injured during firefighting operations.

Fire suppression scene at a food stock factory in Noam-dong, Namwon-si, around 11 a.m. on the 9th.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters]

At around 11 a.m. that day, a fire broke out at a food storage factory in Noam-dong, Namwon-si. The main fire was extinguished after about six hours, and the fire department even issued a Level 2 response.

During the process, two firefighters exposed to flames for a long time suffered first-degree burns and are receiving treatment at Namwon Medical Center. Another firefighter was exhausted but returned to the scene after treatment.

The firefighting operation involved 79 fire trucks, including two fire helicopters, and a total of 423 personnel, but difficulties were encountered due to flammable materials and sandwich panels inside the factory.

Since the factory was closed for the holiday, there were no major casualties.

The police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage as soon as the firefighting is completed.

Meanwhile, heavy rain is forecasted again in the Jeonbuk region on the 9th and 10th. The expected rainfall is 20 to 80 mm, with some areas receiving more than 100 mm.