Gwangju Hit by Record Rainfall for Second Day: 433 mm Cumulative, Highest Ever
Heavy Rain Warnings Issued in 14 Areas of Gwangju and South Jeolla; 271 Evacuated
Flooding in Naju and Hampyeong; Underpasses and Other Roads Closed
Gwangju Metro Line 1 Service Resumes; Riverside Parking Lots Remain Restricted
Up to 400 mm More Rain Forecast; Korea Meteorological Administration Warns of Swift Currents
"The water started coming in from midday yesterday. By evening, the inside of the shop was completely submerged, and there was nothing I could do," the citizen said.
On the morning of July 18, a citizen running a cafe in Sinan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju described the damage caused by the heavy rain the previous day. They said they could not open as usual and did not even dare to touch any electrical appliances.
Interior of a coffee shop in Sinan-dong, Gwangju, flooded by heavy rain. Muddy water covers the entire store.
On the previous day alone, Gwangju recorded 433.1 mm of rainfall. This is the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in July since weather observations began. The city received much more than the average July monthly rainfall (294.2 mm) from 1991 to 2020 in just one day.
The Korea Meteorological Administration analyzed this heavy rain, saying, "We initially forecast 100 to 200 mm, but as the rain clouds moved further south than expected, extreme rainfall occurred."
The record-breaking rainfall caused damage not only in Gwangju but also in various parts of South Jeolla Province. As of 6 a.m. on July 18, heavy rain warnings remained in effect for a second day in 14 cities and counties: Gwangju, Naju, Damyang, Gokseong, Gurye, Jangseong, Hwasun, Boseong, Gwangyang, Suncheon, Muan, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, Mokpo, and Sinan. Heavy rain advisories were issued for other areas in South Jeolla Province.
Citizens walking out through water up to their knees. On the afternoon of the 18th, a residential area in Gwangju was flooded due to heavy rain, and residents are moving while holding umbrellas and pushing through the water. Screenshot from X
From midnight to 6 a.m., rainfall continued in the early morning hours: 92.5 mm in Bigeum, Sinan; 38.5 mm in Sijong, Yeongam; 37.5 mm in Boseong; and 31.5 mm in Naju. The highest hourly rainfall was 17 mm in Gageodo, Sinan; 4 mm in Boseong; and 2 mm in Yeonggwang. Cumulative rainfall totals included 431.5 mm in Naju, 385 mm in Bongsan, Damyang, 348 mm in Wolya, Hampyeong, and 333 mm in Haeje, Muan.
In the early morning hours, the yards of homes in Naju and Hampyeong, South Jeolla Province, were flooded, prompting emergency drainage operations by fire authorities. In South Jeolla Province, a total of six reports of flooding damage were received during the early morning. In Gwangju, sporadic reports continued of road flooding and requests for safety measures.
Only vehicles are floating around. On the afternoon of the 18th, a road in Sinan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju was completely flooded due to heavy rain, and rescue workers waded through water up to their waists to conduct a search. Screenshot from X
There have been no casualties so far, but in Gwangju, out of concern for potential safety risks, 271 people from 189 households have evacuated to temporary shelters (senior centers, cultural centers, lodging facilities, etc.) set up by each district. Urban underpasses, riverside parking lots, underground roads, and Sewolgyo bridges remain closed.
On the previous day, operations on part of Gwangju Metro Line 1 were suspended due to flooding in the Sangmu Station concourse, but full service resumed from the first train at 5:30 a.m. on July 18.
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that 200 to 300 mm of additional rain, and in some areas more than 400 mm, will fall in Gwangju and South Jeolla through the evening of July 19. They warned that "repeated heavy downpours in a short period could cause river levels to rise rapidly," urging people to avoid and prepare for areas at risk of isolation or flooding along rivers.
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