Tree 'Thud', Rainwater 'Gush'... Over 30 Heavy Rain Damage Cases Daily in Gyeongnam, Zero Casualties

After continuous heavy monsoon rains in Gyeongnam, the downpour temporarily subsided on the 17th, but damage caused by heavy rain and strong winds occurred across the province.

According to Gyeongnam Province and the Fire Headquarters, firefighting activities related to rain damage reached 35 cases by 8 p.m. on the same day.

Firefighters are cutting and removing a tree that fell on the road in Naegok-ri, Buk-myeon, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters]

The earlier rain weakened the ground, causing trees to fall not only in residential areas and along roads but also on a hillside in Bubuk-myeon, Miryang-si.

Houses were flooded in Hoengcheon-myeon and Hadong-eup in Hadong-gun, as well as Samrangjin-eup in Miryang-si, and soil erosion occurred in Daeyang-eup, Hapcheon-gun.

Rainwater also entered a factory in Hallim-myeon, Gimhae-si, a semi-basement house and buildings in Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, and the Nonghyup building in Jinhae-gu.

The gymnasium of a middle school in Naedong, Gimhae-si, the senior citizens' center in the apartment complex in Sambang-dong, the basement of an apartment in Gajo-myeon, Geochang-gun, and the underground passage in Sadeung-myeon, Geoje-si, were also flooded the previous day. Additionally, a septic tank overflowed in Yangjeong-dong, Geoje-si, causing continuous damage.

Rainwater has accumulated inside a house in Ha-i myeon, Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters]

So far, no casualties have been reported, but incidents such as signboard detachments due to strong winds, collapses of residential walls and roadside retaining walls, landslides, and fallen fruit are increasing.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heavy rain is expected to fall again in Gyeongnam Province from the night of the 17th.

The expected rainfall is 100mm to 200mm, with the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasting over 400mm of heavy rain near Jirisan and the southern coast.

Gyeongnam Province announced that the preliminary tally of rain-related damage includes 15 cases of road damage, 9 cases of public facility slope erosion, 2 cases of retaining wall and stone wall collapse, 4 cases of road subsidence, 4 cases of house flooding, 2 cases of private land retaining wall collapse, and 2 cases of slope erosion, totaling 19 cases.

The province evacuated 636 residents from 464 households in 17 cities and counties, including Changwon, from areas at risk of landslides and flooding to village halls, senior centers, relatives' homes, and lodging facilities as a precaution.

Access was preemptively restricted at 234 locations, including 26 riverside parking lots, 183 riverside walking trails and Sewol bridges, and 25 roads such as underground passages.

Firefighters are removing soil covering the road near Daegum-ri, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters]

Landslide warnings have been issued for Jinju, Miryang, Hamyang, Namhae, Sacheon, Yangsan, Changwon, Goseong, Hadong, Tongyeong, Sancheong, Geoje, and Geochang, and inspections are underway to prepare for landslides in other regions as well.

Since entering emergency duty level 2 on the 15th, 4,142 provincial and city/county officials have been working, with plans to escalate to level 3 depending on the weather and to have one-third of all officials on emergency standby as needed.

A provincial official stated, “We plan to maintain a 24-hour emergency posture until the heavy rain warning is lifted,” adding, “We will do our best to inspect disaster-prone areas, manage safety, and prevent damage to ensure no casualties occur.”