Summer Resort Water Play Accidents Continue... Caution Needed Due to Heavy Rainfall

Accidents of Isolation or Being Swept Away by Floodwaters Following Heavy Rain
30-50mm Hourly Heavy Rain Forecast in Southern Regions
Prime Minister Han Deok-su: "Safety Management Standards Must Be Significantly Strengthened to Adapt to Environmental Changes"

Due to heavy rain, water levels have risen rapidly, leading to a series of water-related accidents at vacation spots. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Due to heavy localized downpours, water-related accidents are occurring one after another at summer resorts such as valleys and beaches. Rapidly rising water levels have caused situations such as people becoming stranded or swept away by strong currents, requiring caution. Since last week, heavy rain damage has occurred mainly in the central region, and strong rain is expected in the southern region, so caution is advised.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 6 a.m. on the 16th, there have been 8,970 cases of flooding in houses and commercial buildings nationwide, 176 landslides, 1,754 hectares of crop flooding damage, and 81,857 livestock deaths. Since the 8th, heavy rain exceeding 500mm has fallen in Seoul and other central regions, causing repeated flooding damage.

Water-related accidents at summer resorts have also occurred continuously due to the heavy rain coinciding with the vacation season. On the 11th, a man in his 60s, Mr. A, who went missing after being swept away by rising water in Solbong Valley, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province, was found dead. According to the Gangneung Fire Station, at around 1:16 p.m. that day, a report was received near Solbong Valley in Samsan-ri, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, stating "an elderly man is being swept away by water."

Mr. A was found downstream about 4 to 5 km from the accident site around 3:50 p.m. through search operations by the fire authorities, which deployed 13 pieces of equipment including helicopters and drones, along with rescue personnel. He was then transported to a nearby hospital by helicopter but was pronounced dead.

Around 1:16 PM on the 11th, a person in their 60s was swept away by a rapid current near Solbong Valley in Samsan-ri, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province, and firefighters are conducting a search.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

There was also a case where people ignored evacuation recommendations and became stranded, eventually requesting rescue. On the 10th, two campers who ignored safety personnel's advice to evacuate became stranded due to suddenly rising rainwater and were rescued after several hours. According to MBC, the Yangyang Fire Station in Gangwon Province rescued two campers stranded by floodwaters in the Beopsuchi-ri Valley, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang, at around 1:30 a.m. that day.

It is known that they had been living in tents near the valley for three days. Although safety personnel warned of danger and advised them to evacuate and dismantle their tents, they ignored the warnings and held out, eventually becoming stranded by the rising valley water. At that time, Yangyang experienced over 200mm of heavy rain concentrated over three days. Rescue workers who responded to the report rescued the campers via an 8-hour round-trip forest road to avoid the strong currents.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 16th, very heavy rain of 30 to 50mm per hour is expected in the southern region today. In Gangwon Yeongdong, due to easterly winds, rain is expected in some areas from 3 p.m. today until 6 p.m. tomorrow. Expected rainfall amounts are 30 to 100mm nationwide except for Gangwon Yeongdong and the eastern coast of Gyeongsang Province. Some areas on the southern coast may receive over 150mm. The Meteorological Administration urged preparations to prevent landslides and flooding damage in the southern region.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is presiding over a meeting to review the response to the heavy rain at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in Government Sejong 2 Complex, Sejong City, on the morning of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Deok-su urged each ministry and local government to establish a new disaster response system suitable for the era of climate change. At the Cabinet meeting, he said, "Unprecedented disasters are occurring frequently due to climate change," adding, "By significantly strengthening and boldly reorganizing safety management standards in response to environmental changes, we will be able to effectively prepare for large-scale disasters that may occur in the future." He also added, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, along with each ministry and local government, should devote all efforts to establishing a new disaster response system suitable for the era of climate change."

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