Heavy Rain Expected Mainly in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Raised to Level 2

Maintain Crisis Alert at 'Severe Level'

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that as of 9 PM on the 22nd, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will raise the emergency level from Stage 1 to Stage 2. The crisis alert level remains at the severe stage.

Rain is falling near Gangnam Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, rain is expected in most regions nationwide from this day until the 24th. On the 23rd, very heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected mainly in the central region and Jeolla area, and on the 24th, in the southern part of Chungcheong and the southern regions.

Expected rainfall amounts are 50?120 mm in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi; 30?80 mm in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon; 30?80 mm in Daejeon, Sejong, and inland Chungcheong; 50?100 mm in Gwangju and Jeonnam; 30?100 mm in Jeonbuk; 50?100 mm in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam; 20?60 mm in Daegu and southern inland Gyeongbuk; 30?80 mm in northern inland Gyeongbuk; and 30?80 mm in Jeju.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that although the conditions for raising the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters emergency duty to Stage 2 have not been fully met, heavy rain is expected mainly in the metropolitan area, and large amounts of rain nationwide raise concerns about additional damage, so the level is being proactively raised.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters requested related agencies to immediately control and evacuate in case of flooding in underground spaces such as semi-basement houses and underground parking lots, and to actively support evacuation of vulnerable groups who have difficulty evacuating by cooperating with designated helpers.