Trees Uprooted and Semi-basement Houses Flooded... Nationwide Rain Damage Continues

Heavy rain that fell overnight caused flooding damage across the country.

At 4:39 a.m. on the 30th, a roadside tree fell on a road in Gangseo-gu, Busan, and firefighters are taking safety measures. (Photo by Yonhap News)

According to Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters on the 30th, from the previous day until 7 a.m. on this day, the province recorded an average rainfall of 59.5mm, including 113.5mm in Gapyeong (Buk-myeon), 100.5mm in Namyangju (Hwado-eup), 80.5mm in Yangju (Baekseok-eup), 77mm in Pocheon (Naechon-myeon), 74.5mm in Guri (Sutaek-dong), and 68.9mm in Icheon (Bubal-eup).

Between 8 and 9 p.m. the previous day, flood reports were received from semi-basement houses in Sosabon-dong, Bucheon-si, and Jangam-dong, Uijeongbu-si, prompting the fire authorities to carry out drainage operations.

In the early morning hours, road obstruction reports were received from Yatap-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, and Yulseok-ri, Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si, and safety measures were implemented.

The Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters reported a total of 36 rain-related firefighting activities, including 3 drainage support cases and 33 safety measures (10 for houses, 15 for roads, and 8 for tree and debris removal, etc.). There were no casualties.

The heavy rain warnings issued since the afternoon of the previous day for 17 cities and counties including Suwon, Goyang, Yongin, Hwaseong, Namyangju, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Gimpo, Gwangju, Osan, Yangju, Icheon, Anseong, Pocheon, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, and Gapyeong have all been lifted. However, strong wind warnings remain in effect for five areas along the West Coast, including Ansan, Siheung, Gimpo, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong.

In Incheon, where a strong wind advisory has been issued, passenger ferry operations are suspended. According to the Incheon Fire Headquarters, a total of 19 119 emergency calls related to strong winds and heavy rain were received from 8 p.m. the previous day to 8 a.m. this day. In Namdong-gu, Guwol-dong, Incheon, flooding occurred in the basement of a villa due to sewage backflow, and the fire authorities carried out drainage measures.

Although not included in the fire authorities' damage tally, a power outage occurred around 6:20 p.m. the previous day in Gyeyang-gu when a tree came into contact with power lines. As a result, 110 households in Imhak-dong and Gyulhyeon-dong experienced power outages for more than two hours, causing inconvenience. Elevator entrapment incidents due to the blackout occurred in some buildings, and a total of eight people were rescued.

Since the afternoon of the previous day, a strong wind advisory has been in effect throughout Incheon, including the West Sea Five Islands, Ganghwa, and Ongjin-gun. Due to worsening weather conditions in the West Sea, ferry operations on 14 routes connecting Incheon and the islands were suspended, including 14 vessels on 12 routes such as Incheon?Yeonpyeongdo and Incheon?Baengnyeongdo.

As of 8 a.m., cumulative rainfall amounts were 48.5mm in Gyeongseo-dong, Seo-gu; 48.5mm in Unnam-dong, Jung-gu; 47mm in Muui-dong, Jung-gu; 46mm in Gusan-dong, Bupyeong-gu; and 43mm in Geumgok-dong, Seo-gu.

Earlier, the Incheon city government urged through safety messages, "Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is expected. Please refrain from going out and pay attention to safety."

Photo by Yonhap News

Jeju, which received over 260mm of heavy rain in the past two days, also suffered rain damage. According to the Jeju Fire and Safety Headquarters, 43 reports related to weather alerts were received from the previous day until 6 a.m. this day. In the afternoon of the previous day, a street tree fell in Yeon-dong, Jeju-si, covering the road and prompting safety measures, and the exterior wall of an apartment in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju-si, also fell off. Entry to Hallasan Mountain has been completely restricted.

The Korea Meteorological Administration warned that winds will be very strong with gusts exceeding 20 m/s until the early morning of July 1, advising caution in facility management and safety accidents.