Monsoon rains that began overnight poured heavily across the country through the morning, causing a series of damages large and small, including flooded homes and soil runoff. Fortunately, no casualties have been confirmed so far.
Rain Damage Reported Nationwide Overnight… Downpours Exceeding 100㎜ in Multiple Areas
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on the 9th, rain as intense as 50㎜ per hour was falling in the Chungcheong region, where heavy rain advisories were in effect, as well as in North Jeolla, southern Gyeonggi and Gangwon. Cumulative rainfall at major observation points between midnight and 8 a.m. reached 136.6㎜ in Boeun, North Chungcheong; 128.8㎜ in Cheongju; 115.5㎜ in Cheongyang (Jeongsan), South Chungcheong; 113.9㎜ in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang; 101.2㎜ in Cheonan, South Chungcheong; and 82㎜ in Imsil (Gangjin), North Jeolla.
Resident evacuations and rescue operations continued in areas where rain was concentrated. At around 6:40 a.m., in Hoein-myeon, Boeun County, North Chungcheong, 82 residents of downstream villages hurriedly evacuated as rising water levels at Geoncheon Reservoir raised fears of overflow.
At the same time, a retaining wall collapsed behind a nursing home in Gadeok-myeon, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, prompting the relocation of 12 residents and staff to a welfare facility. Earlier, at around 5:44 a.m., two residents trapped in a flooded home in Ojeong-ri, Suhan-myeon, Boeun County were rescued by a 119 rescue team.
Elsewhere, two people trapped in a vehicle on a flooded road were rescued in Jaun-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, and four residents evacuated due to soil runoff in Mureungdowon-myeon, Yeongwol County, Gangwon. In total, fire authorities received 145 reports of heavy rain damage between 6 p.m. the previous day and 8 a.m. In North Jeolla, 26 cases of damage were tallied, including soil sliding down from a national road expansion construction site.
Alerts Spread Even After Daybreak… Flood and Landslide Warnings Issued
As the rain continued after daybreak, the KMA issued a series of new heavy rain alerts by region. A heavy rain advisory took effect for Siheung and Gwangmyeong at 10:35 a.m., while heavy rain warnings are in effect for Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek and Anseong. In the Honam region, a heavy rain warning was issued for Gochang as of 10:40 a.m., and a heavy rain advisory was newly applied to Eocheongdo Island in Gunsan. The KMA explained that it adjusted alert levels according to rainfall conditions in each region.
Heavy rain alerts are divided into advisories and warnings based on expected rainfall. An advisory is issued when rainfall is forecast to reach 60㎜ or more over three hours or 110㎜ or more over 12 hours, while the alert escalates to a warning when 90㎜ over three hours or 180㎜ or more over 12 hours is expected. Even at advisory-level rainfall, the rain becomes heavy enough that an umbrella offers little protection.
Flood and landslide alerts are also expanding as water levels rise in major rivers. A flood warning has been issued for Doam Bridge on Yongsu Stream in Sejong, while flood advisories are in effect for Heungdeok Bridge on Musim Stream in Cheongju, Ipyeong Bridge in Boeun, and Dongseong Bridge and Putgae Bridge on Nonsan Stream. The Korea Forest Service also issued landslide forecasts for major areas in Daejeon, Sejong, South and North Chungcheong, North Jeolla and North Gyeongsang.
Local Governments Respond… "Beware of Flooding in Low-Lying Areas"
In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local governments began preemptive measures, including restricting access to riversides and walking trails and blocking entry to underpasses. Local governments including South Chungcheong Province and North Chungcheong Province fully closed riverside parking lots and national park trails.
Residents of semi-basement homes and low-lying commercial buildings prone to flooding are advised to install flood barriers in advance, and vehicles parked in riverside lots should be moved to safe locations. In urban areas in particular, accidents involving people falling through manhole covers forced open by water pressure have recurred, so it is safer to walk along the edge of the sidewalk when passing flooded roads.
The KMA forecast up to 200㎜ of additional rain through the night, centered on the Chungcheong region and southern parts of the country. "Heavy rain is expected to continue through this evening," a KMA official said. "We ask the public to take special caution against flooding in low-lying areas and safety accidents."
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook instructed related ministries to "re-inspect the facilities under your jurisdiction and on-site response systems, focusing on areas at high risk of additional damage."
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