11 Dead and 2,000 Displaced Over Two Days Due to Heavy Rain in Gwangju and Jeonnam

28 Dead and 11 Missing Nationwide Since the 1st... About 9,300 Hectares of Farmland Flooded

On the 8th, about 100 meters of the embankment along the Seomjin River near Geumgokgyo Bridge in Jiseok-ri, Geumji-myeon, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk, collapsed, flooding nearby villages and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate urgently to nearby public facilities. (Photo by the National Fire Agency)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Following the Seoul metropolitan area and central regions, a 'deluge' has also poured over southern areas such as Gwangju and Jeonnam, resulting in 11 deaths and nearly 2,000 displaced people over just two days from the 7th to the 8th. Since the beginning of the rainy season on the 1st, the total number of deaths and missing persons nationwide due to the monsoon rains has reached 39, with more than 6,200 people still unable to return home and taking shelter in gymnasiums or village halls.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) as of 6 p.m. on the 8th, 11 people have died and one person is missing due to heavy rain centered on the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions since the previous day. There was also one injury reported.

In the early hours of the day in Damyang, Jeonnam, a fire broke out caused by a fallen utility pole due to a landslide, resulting in the death of a woman in her 70s. An 8-year-old child who went missing while evacuating due to house flooding was found dead. Additionally, in Hwasun, Jeonnam, a man in his 60s who was checking a rice paddy drainage ditch was swept away by a rapid current and died, and in Geochang, Gyeongnam, a man in his 80s was buried in soil along with his walking tractor and died.

At around 7:10 a.m. on the 8th, 119 rescue workers are using boats to rescue disaster victims in Sanmak-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. (Photo by the Fire Agency)

As a result, the number of displaced people over two days in areas including Namwon in Jeonbuk, Damyang and Gurye in Jeonnam, and Sancheong in Gyeongnam has reached 1,966 individuals across 1,384 households. Among them, 1,926 people from 1,352 households have not yet returned home. As of 4:30 p.m. on the same day, the CDSCH announced that the number of displaced persons had reached 2,360.

The number of temporarily evacuated people is 3,195 from 1,954 households, of whom 2,604 from 1,563 households remain in gymnasiums and village halls. Additionally, 223 displaced persons were reported in border areas such as Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi and Cheorwon in Gangwon.

Facility damage has been tallied at 3,246 cases, including the collapse of the Seomjin River embankment. Public facilities such as roads, bridges, rivers, reservoirs, and drainage systems account for 2,233 cases, while private facilities including houses, vinyl greenhouses, livestock barns, and warehouses suffered 1,013 cases of damage. Agricultural land covering 1,180 hectares was also flooded or otherwise damaged.

As flooding continues in the southern regions, the cumulative damage from heavy rain since the 1st continues to rise.

Over eight days, the total number of deaths due to heavy rain is 28, missing persons 11, and injured 8. These figures do not include casualties from water-related accidents such as the Chuncheon Uiam Dam boat capsizing (3 deaths and 3 missing).

The number of displaced persons across 11 cities and provinces reached 4,466 individuals in 2,831 households. Among them, 3,131 people from 2,019 households are still staying at relatives’ homes, gymnasiums, senior centers, or village halls. The number of temporarily evacuated people is 7,916 from 3,891 households, with 3,112 individuals from 1,829 households still unable to return home.

Facility damage reported over eight days totals 9,491 cases (5,527 public facilities and 4,234 private facilities), with emergency repairs completed on 6,943 cases, accounting for 73.2%. The damaged agricultural land area reached 9,317 hectares.

Additionally, 406 trails across 17 national parks including Mudeungsan, Jirisan, Hallyeohaesang, and Gyeongju have been closed, and road closures have increased to 109 locations, including expressways and national highways. Newly closed sections include two on the Gwangju-Daegu line, the Samae 3 Tunnel on the Suncheon-Wanju line, the Deogyusan tollgate on the Daejeon-Tongyeong line, one location on the Suncheon-Wanju line, five on the Honam line, and one on the Muan-Gwangju line.

Seven railway lines have suspended operations, including the Chungbuk, Taebaek, Yeongdong, Gyeongjeon, Janghang, Gwangju, and Jeolla lines. Additionally, 29 underground passages in Jeonbuk, Busan, and Gwangju, as well as 84 riverside parking lots in Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk, have restricted access.

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