Five Dead Overnight Due to Heavy Rain... Strong Rain in Gangwon Yeongdong and Northern Gyeongbuk Until the Day After Tomorrow

Accidents Occur at Busan Underpasses and Others
217 Evacuated Due to Flood Damage
289 Private Facilities Also Flooded

On the 23rd, firefighters dispatched to the No.1 Underpass near Busan Station in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, where heavy rain fell, are conducting rescue operations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Jo In-kyung and Lee Hyun-joo] Overnight, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds swept across the country, resulting in five fatalities and continuous casualties. Damage to facilities such as flooded houses and roads is also occurring one after another.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 24th, three people were found dead inside a vehicle trapped in the submerged underground passage in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, during the night and early morning. The underground passage, which is 3.5 meters high, was filled with water up to 2.5 meters due to the sudden heavy rain, trapping several vehicles.

In Wiyangcheon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, a man in his 60s was swept away by the rapid current of the river along with his vehicle and died, and one drowning victim was found near Gamseonggyo Bridge in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do.

Also, in Haeundae-gu, Busan, two people were slightly injured as a construction site was flooded, and at a campsite in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, three campers were injured with leg fractures and other wounds after trees were toppled by a gust of wind and were transported to the hospital.

So far, 217 people nationwide have been urgently evacuated due to flooding damage. At Ganggu Market in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk, 136 people evacuated, and 80 people evacuated to relatives' or acquaintances' homes, lodging, or public facilities due to flooding in the Dongcheon area and other parts of Busan.

Facility damage is also occurring continuously, with 289 private facilities such as houses flooded. By region, Busan had the most with 162 places, followed by Gyeongbuk with 70, Incheon with 27, Ulsan with 21, and Gyeonggi with 9 places submerged. In Gyeonggi and Chungnam regions, three retaining walls and embankments collapsed, and soil erosion occurred in six places including Busan and Ulsan. In Busan, five vehicles were submerged and four were damaged.

As of 10 a.m., the cloud band that brought heavy rain moved eastward, and rain has eased in most parts of the country except for Gangwon Yeongdong. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this monsoon rain will continue until the morning of Saturday the 25th, then stop from the afternoon in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Yeongseo region, and most parts of the country are expected to have no more rain on Sunday.

The expected rainfall during the weekend is 30-80 mm in northern Gyeonggi, Gangwon Yeongseo, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, and Ulleungdo-Dokdo, 20-60 mm in Seoul, southern Gyeonggi, and Jeolla, and 5-40 mm in Jeju Island. The rain that stopped will resume on Monday the 27th as the stationary front moves north again and continue until the 28th. Although the amount is expected to be small, localized flooding should be prepared for.

However, the rain clouds that poured heavy rain are currently moving eastward, affecting Gangwon Yeongdong and the northern east coast of Gyeongbuk, where very heavy rain of 30-50 mm per hour is expected until the day after tomorrow (the 26th). Rainfall of over 40 mm per hour is equivalent to pouring water with a bucket. Small rivers and drainage systems overflow, and it is difficult to secure visibility even when using wipers while driving.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.