Evacuation Order for Residents Due to 300mm Heavy Rain in Gangwon... Over 200 Damage Reports Received

Flooding and Washouts in Residential Areas and Roads
Evacuation Orders Issued Overnight in Cheorwon and Hwacheon
Gangwon Province Forecasts Up to 300mm of Rain by Tomorrow

On the 3rd, heavy rain caused the roads around the old Gangchon Station in Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon, and the Bukhan River bicycle path to be submerged by the swollen waters of the Bukhan River. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] The Gangwon region, which experienced heavy rainfalls reaching 300mm, suffered continuous damage centered on the central and northern areas due to the ongoing monsoon rains on the 3rd.

Overnight, about 40 residents from some villages in Cheorwon and Hwacheon evacuated to safe zones amid concerns of flooding and river overflow caused by the heavy rain.

In Namiseom, Chuncheon, torrential rain reaching 116mm per hour was recorded at one point, causing various degrees of flood damage across the province.

From the 1st until 2:30 PM on this day, the Gangwon Fire Headquarters received about 200 reports related to heavy rain.

In Hoengseong and Hwacheon, 11 people became disaster victims due to partial destruction and flooding of one house each.

From late night on the 2nd to early morning on the 3rd, hourly rainfall of 50 to 80mm led to evacuation orders for residents in some villages in Cheorwon and Hwacheon due to fears of river overflow.

In Sangseo-myeon, Hwacheon-gun, 16 residents from 8 households in Sanyang-ri urgently evacuated to a nearby village hall due to flood concerns.

Due to the risk of overflow in Wasucheon and Sagokcheon rivers in Cheorwon, 23 residents from nearby villages took refuge in safe areas.

Heavy rain continued until the morning of the 3rd in the inland areas of Gangwon, including Cheorwon and Yanggu, causing successive flood damages and evacuation orders for residents. The photo shows a weather radar image of rain clouds. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Flooding of houses also occurred frequently.

From around 12:08 AM on the 3rd, about nine reports of house flooding were received from Dongseong-eup, Galmal-eup, Kimhwa-eup, Cheorwon-eup, Geunnam-myeon in Cheorwon, and Sangseo-myeon in Hwacheon.

At around 1:25 AM, one person trapped in a farm shed in Bongori, Sangseo-myeon, Hwacheon-gun was rescued. Then, at around 2:25 AM, the underground parking lot of an apartment in Geunnam-myeon, Cheorwon was flooded, prompting drainage operations.

At around 3:17 AM in Songhyeon-ri, Bangsan-myeon, Yanggu-gun, four residents and ten campers urgently evacuated due to river overflow. Also, at around 2:30 AM, four foreign workers evacuated as water overflowed from Mahyeoncheon in Mahyeon 1-ri, Geunnam-myeon, Cheorwon-gun.

Flood damage also occurred to a paprika cultivation facility covering 12,000㎡ in the area.

Additionally, about 30 meters of the retaining wall of an apartment parking lot on Myeongseong-ro in Cheorwon-gun was washed away, burying or damaging five vehicles.

Besides these, over 50 reports of various damages such as house and road flooding or destruction, river overflow, and fallen trees were received mainly from Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, and Yanggu.

Rail Service on Chungbuk and Taebaek Lines Fully Suspended Due to Heavy Rainfall
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, roads and railways were flooded or cut off due to landslides caused by concentrated heavy rain reaching up to 80mm per hour, leading to traffic control.

Train operations on the Yeongdong Line between Donghae and Yeongju, and on the Taebaek Line between Yeongwol and Jecheon, have been suspended for two days.

About 15 tons of soil flowed onto National Route 56 near Yukdan-ri, Geunnam-myeon, Cheorwon-gun, restricting vehicle traffic, with emergency restoration work underway.

Provincial Road 460 in Songhyeon-ri, Bangsan-myeon, Yanggu-gun was submerged.

Metbugi Bridge and Baekma Bridge in Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun were temporarily closed due to flood risks.

At around 10 AM, emergency restoration work was underway on a temporary bridge built for the installation of Gobangsan Bridge in Bangsan-myeon, Yanggu-gun, which was submerged.

There is also a risk of landslides.

This is because an additional 300mm of rain is forecast to fall by tomorrow in the Yeongseo region, which has already received 300mm of concentrated heavy rain over the past three days.

According to Gangwon Province, there are 2,667 landslide-prone areas, including 438 areas at risk of landslides and 2,229 areas at risk of debris flow.

By region, there are 431 in Wonju, 259 in Chuncheon, 249 in Hongcheon, 232 in Hwacheon, and 196 in Samcheok.

Gangwon Province has raised the landslide crisis alert to 'Warning.' The landslide crisis alert has four levels: Interest, Caution, Warning, and Serious.

Landslide warnings have been issued for six cities and counties in the Yeongseo region, including Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Yeongwol-gun, and Cheorwon-gun.

On the 3rd, heavy rain caused soil to flow down onto a road near Bonguisan in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon, resulting in the closure of one lane. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In Chuncheon, landslide risks have appeared near Yeonsangol in Dong-myeon.

At the mountain near Piam Tunnel in Yongsan-ri, Sinbuk-eup, muddy water and soil have flowed down, prompting emergency measures by road and forestry authorities.

On the 2nd, a landslide occurred on a hill near Mungok-ri, Buk-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, causing 0.3 hectares of forest to collapse.

Chuncheon City issued a caution advisory for seven dong and myeon areas and sent text messages urging citizens to evacuate to safe places.

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