Buyeo County Hit by Up to 380mm of Torrential Rain in Two Days... Extensive Damage to Crops, Roads, and Cultural Heritage Sites

476.6 Hectares of Rice and Watermelon Flooded
Road Washouts, Embankment Collapses, and Cultural Heritage Damage Continue

Since the 16th, heavy rainfall of up to 380mm over two days caused significant damage in Buyeo, Chungnam, including road flooding and the collapse of embankments along local and small rivers. / Buyeo County Office

Buyeo County in Chungnam announced on the 18th that it suffered extensive damage to crops, roads, and cultural assets due to the extreme heavy rainfall that fell over two days starting from the 16th.

According to the county, this extreme rainfall brought more than 380mm of precipitation, with some areas experiencing over 60mm per hour.

As of the 17th, a total of 31 cases of facility damage had been reported. These included seven cases of road facility damage such as road slope collapse and washouts; nine cases of minor public facility damage such as drainage washouts and damage to village roads; ten cases of embankment collapse along local and small rivers; one case involving a cultural heritage site; damage to forests such as landslides; and one case of livestock facility damage.

In particular, the total area of crop damage, including rice, reached 476.6 hectares. Of this, 301 hectares were rice paddies, 65.8 hectares were facility crops such as watermelon and melon, and 109.8 hectares were other crops. The most severe damage occurred in areas with a high concentration of greenhouse facilities.

Park Junghyun, the governor of Buyeo County, is inspecting the damage to the watermelon greenhouse flooded by the extreme heavy rain./Buyeo County Office

The county established a joint situation room with related agencies such as fire and police departments from the 16th, when the heavy rain warning was issued, and began response activities.

They conducted preemptive inspections of vulnerable areas and, upon receiving reports from residents, immediately dispatched teams to the sites to focus on emergency restoration and safety measures.

A county official stated, "As the ground has been weakened by the torrential rain, concerns about landslides and collapses are increasing. We are evacuating village residents to safe areas such as community centers through disaster safety text messages and direct visits," adding, "We will respond thoroughly to prevent further damage."

In Buyeo, Chungnam, a heavy rainfall of up to 380mm poured down over two days starting from the 16th, causing the farmland roads to be washed away. Photo by Buyeo County Office

Meanwhile, the county is working to quickly assess the damage situation and is making every effort to secure restoration funds and prepare support measures through emergency repairs and consultations with the central government and Chungnam Province.