Heavy downpours in the central and southern regions have caused widespread damage. Due to the torrential rains, two people lost their lives and more than 1,300 residents sought shelter at nearby evacuation centers.
On the afternoon of the 17th, when a heavy rain advisory was in effect, a road in Hakdong, Donggu, Gwangju was submerged in muddy water, causing traffic congestion. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and other authorities, as of 4 p.m. on July 17, residents from 421 households?totaling 1,382 people?had temporarily evacuated due to the rain across 20 cities and counties in eight provinces and metropolitan areas. Fatal accidents were also reported. At 7:04 p.m. the previous day, a retaining wall under an overpass collapsed in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, crushing a vehicle passing by. The driver, a man in his 40s, was killed. At 3:59 a.m. on July 17, a man in his 50s was found in cardiac arrest inside a submerged vehicle on a road in Seoknam-dong, Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. He was transported to a hospital but did not survive.
There was also damage to infrastructure. Public facility damage included one retaining wall collapse, two cases of road washouts, one bridge collapse, and three additional road washouts, totaling seven incidents. In Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, one house was flooded, and in Hwaseong, a privately owned retaining wall collapsed. The Yang-an Underpass in Sejong and the Namdong Underpass in Asan continued to be drained due to ongoing water inflow. Power outages occurred in some areas. There were 29 reports of power outages nationwide, affecting 9,784 households. Of these, 11 cases (4,802 households) had been restored, while the remainder were still under restoration.
Due to the heavy rain, schools were ordered to close. As of July 17, out of 667 schools in South Chungcheong Province, 482 were closed, 132 conducted shortened classes, 51 adjusted their start times, and 2 held remote classes.
Transportation was also disrupted. Forty-six flights were canceled. Rail service was suspended on 76 routes, including the Gyeongbu Line (Seoul~Daejeon), Janghang Line, Seohae Line (Hongseong~Anjung), Chungbuk Line (Osong~Gongjeon), Gyeongjeon Line (Gunbuk~Haman), and Honam Line (Naju~Gomagwon). Some sections of the KTX operated at reduced speeds. Ferry service was also suspended, with 26 routes and 34 vessels, including the Mokpo~Hongdo route, halted.
As damage from the heavy rains rapidly increased in the afternoon, the CDSCH raised the disaster crisis alert to its highest level, "serious." In addition, CDSCH activated Level 3 emergency response and elevated the emergency posture of ministries and related agencies to the highest level. This is the first time in 1 year and 11 months that CDSCH has issued a Level 3 alert, the last being during Typhoon Khanun in August 2023.
From midnight on July 16 to 5 p.m. on July 17, torrential rains pounded the central and southern regions. Cumulative precipitation by region was 419.6 mm in Seosan, 418.9 mm in Hongseong, 387.5 mm in Jeonui (Sejong), 378.0 mm in Dangjin, 375.0 mm in Gongju, and 369.05 mm in Cheongyang.
The heavy rain is expected to continue. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that, through July 19, up to 300 mm or more of additional rainfall is expected, mainly in the Chungcheong region, southern Gyeonggi Province, and the southern regions.
Kim Minjae, head of CDSCH and acting Minister of the Interior and Safety, said, "We earnestly ask the public to refrain from going out during heavy rain and to avoid low-lying areas, riversides, and areas at risk of landslides or other hazards."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
