Gyeonggi Province Raises Disaster Emergency to Level 3; One Dead in Gimpo Downpour

As of 6:00 p.m. on August 13, Gyeonggi Province raised the emergency level of its Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to Level 3, the highest level. This measure was taken in response to the heavy rainfall in Gimpo, where more than 247 mm of rain fell in a single day.

This is the second time this year that Level 3 has been declared, following the torrential downpours in Gapyeong and other northern parts of Gyeonggi Province on July 20. Currently, heavy rain warnings are in effect for 11 cities and counties, including Goyang, and heavy rain advisories are in place for 20 cities and counties, including Suwon.

The provincial government explained that it raised the emergency level due to forecasts predicting up to an additional 200 mm of rainfall overnight, on top of the 200 mm of rain that had already fallen during the day, mainly in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province.

On the 13th, when a vehicle was submerged due to heavy rain in Hwarang-ro, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province in the metropolitan area, the driver came out of the car. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Under Level 3 emergency, the head of the Natural Disaster Division of Gyeonggi Province serves as the chief of situation management, with 45 personnel deployed for disaster response. The province initially declared Level 1 emergency at 4:30 a.m., raised it to Level 2 at noon, and then escalated it to Level 3 in the afternoon.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, between midnight and 7:00 p.m. on August 13, precipitation exceeded 200 mm in several locations: 247.5 mm in Gimpo, 233.0 mm in Goyang (Jugyo), and 216.5 mm in Yangju (Jangheung-myeon).

Due to the heavy rain, one person died in Singok-ri, Gimpo. In addition, the entire Gyeongui Line connecting Uijeongbu and Daegok Station has suspended operations. Eight routes in total are currently under control, including three underpasses such as the Singok Underpass in Uijeongbu, and four roads such as village roads in Yangju.