Heavy Rainfall Up to 120mm... Flood Damage in Chungcheong and Gyeongbuk Regions

Very Strong and Heavy Rain... Special Precautions Advised

Very heavy and intense rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is falling in the central region, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk areas. Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Chungcheong and Gyeongbuk regions, causing damage due to the downpour.

A citizen stands waiting to cross the crosswalk on Yeouidaero, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 8th, the expected rainfall amounts are as follows: over 100mm in Seoul, Incheon, southern Gyeonggi, central and southern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon; over 120mm in Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, Chungbuk, and northern Gyeongbuk; 20 to 60mm in northern Jeonbuk; 10 to 60mm in the eastern coast of Gangwon, Daegu, and southern Gyeongbuk; 10 to 40mm in southern Jeonbuk; 5 to 40mm in inland Gyeongnam, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo; 5 to 20mm in the five western islands, Gwangju, and Jeonnam (excluding the southern coast); and 5 to 10mm in Jeju Island. In Seoul, Incheon, and southern Gyeonggi, very heavy rain of around 30mm per hour is expected from morning until noon, while in central and southern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, it will continue from morning until afternoon. Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions are forecasted to experience very heavy rain of 30 to 50mm per hour until noon, and Jeolla region will also see very heavy rain of around 30mm per hour until noon.

Heavy rain overnight caused continuous damage. Some village residents in Imdong-myeon and Namhu-myeon of Andong-si, Gyeongbuk, were temporarily isolated but were rescued. According to the Gyeongbuk Fire and Safety Headquarters and Andong City, at around 3:10 a.m. on the 8th, 19 villagers in Wiri and Daegok-ri of Imdong-myeon were isolated, of whom 8 were rescued and 11 evacuated on their own. Rescue operations began around 3:30 a.m. Besides Imdong-myeon, 2 people in Namhu-myeon, 2 in Waryong-myeon, and 1 in Yongsang-dong of Andong were rescued, as well as 1 person in Ipam-myeon, Yeongyang-gun. The intersection at the entrance of Nakgangmul-gil Park in Sanga-dong, Andong-si, was closed to traffic in both directions. A landslide advisory was issued for Bonghwa-gun starting at 7 a.m.

In Daejeon and Chungnam areas, street trees fell and roads were flooded. Although there were no casualties, a total of 8 reports of rain damage were received from 9 p.m. the previous day to 5 a.m. on the 8th, including 3 in Daejeon and 5 in Chungnam. Fire authorities worked on moving a fallen tree off the road at the scene. Reports of flooding on some roads in Eunjin-myeon, Nonsan-si, Chungnam, led to drainage operations, and safety measures were taken after soil was washed out onto a road in Sindae-ri, Boksu-myeon, Geumsan-gun. The Geumgang Flood Control Office issued flood warnings for Inchanggyo and Boksugyo bridges in Daejeon and Munamgyo bridge in Geumsan, Chungnam.

A Korea Meteorological Administration official emphasized, “Very heavy and intense rain is expected, so please be especially cautious. Due to rain falling in the upper reaches of valleys and rivers, water levels downstream can suddenly rise, so refrain from camping. Access to riverside walking trails or underpasses should be prohibited as you may become isolated.”