This Summer, Heavy Rain Forecasted... How to Prevent Last Year's Flooding Nightmare from Reoccurring

Flood-prone areas may face repeated damage from last year
"Local governments to inspect rainwater inlets... Citizen awareness also important"

As forecasts suggest that this summer may bring more rainfall than usual, there are calls for inspections of stormwater drains to prevent a repeat of last year's flood damage. Areas like Gangnam in Seoul, which have geographical features prone to concentrated water accumulation, face the risk of recurring flood damage every year, making it essential to check drainage systems before the summer season.

In August last year, record-breaking heavy rains in the central region caused flooding in areas such as Gangnam-gu and Sindebang-dong in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. A tragic incident occurred in Gwanak-gu where a semi-basement room was flooded, resulting in the deaths of three family members who could not escape.

This summer is also expected to see rainfall amounts similar to or greater than average. According to the three-month forecast released by the Korea Meteorological Administration last month, the probability of July rainfall being similar to or exceeding the average (245.9?308.2 mm) is 40% each. For August, the probability of rainfall being similar to the average (225.3?346.7 mm) is 50%, higher than average is 30%, and lower than average is 20%.

Korea tends to experience heavy rainfall mainly in the southern regions from mid-July to mid-August. Professor Lee Young-joo of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at University of Seoul pointed out that areas with geographical features prone to water accumulation could face repeated flood damage this year as well. This highlights the need for preventive measures against recurring flood damage.

On the afternoon of August 8 last year, a city road in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon was submerged in rainwater. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In an interview with YTN's 'News Rider' on the 7th, Professor Lee explained, "There are various types of flooding. Gangnam in Seoul is bowl-shaped, slightly sunken compared to surrounding areas, so rainwater and stormwater from nearby regions all concentrate here, exceeding drainage capacity and causing flooding. In places like Pohang, flooding occurred due to record rainfall accompanying typhoons."

He continued, "Rainfall patterns now are much more intense and concentrated over shorter periods than before, continuously causing floods. This situation is unlikely to change significantly this year," expressing concern.

One of the causes of last year's flood damage was inadequate management of stormwater drains. Although regular maintenance of drainage channels should have been conducted to allow accumulated rainwater to flow out, cigarette butts and fallen leaves piled up, causing water to back up.

Professor Lee emphasized, "The function of stormwater drains, which serve as drainage points where water can flow out during heavy rain, is crucial. Last year, it was confirmed that blocked stormwater drains accelerated flooding and increased damage. However, this year, some drains are still poorly managed or clogged with trash."

He added, "Most local governments conduct maintenance of stormwater drains during the heavy rain season from June to August, but faster maintenance is needed. Cooperation from citizens and public awareness are also essential to prevent trash accumulation."

In this regard, Seoul City announced last month that it will implement a summer cleaning plan from May 15 to October 15 to prepare for heavy rains and promptly collect flood-related waste.

Since vulnerable areas can have stormwater drains blocked by cigarette butts or trash in alleyways during heavy rain, reducing drainage function, Seoul City is focusing on inspecting and cleaning these drains intensively.

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