Heavy Rain Continues Over the Weekend... Up to 200mm in Chungcheong and Honam
Mugunghwa Train Derailment Disrupts Nationwide Train Operations

Flood warnings have been issued for rivers and streams nationwide due to continuous heavy rain for three days. Emergency situations are occurring one after another, including a Mugunghwa train derailment caused by the torrential rain.

On the night of the 14th, the Mugunghwa-ho return train derailed due to soil that flowed inside the tracks near Hyeondo-myeon, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk.
[Photo by Chungbuk Fire Headquarters]

According to the Chungbuk Provincial Fire Department on the 15th, at 11:04 p.m. the previous day, a Mugunghwa train derailed near Maepo Tunnel in Maebong-ri, Hyeondo-myeon, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si. Six out of seven train cars derailed as soil that had spilled next to the tunnel exit flowed onto the tracks. Two cars, including the locomotive, overturned in the accident, injuring the engineer A (52), who was transported to the hospital with facial injuries.

The train was being transferred from Seodaejeon Station to Susaek Station and was reported to have no passengers on board. Korail and fire authorities have deployed about 80 personnel to carry out recovery operations.

On the same day, Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) announced that until the track derailment accident on the Shintanjin?Maepo section was restored and the heavy rain subsided, about 170 KTX and regular train services would be suspended and about 30 adjusted.

As heavy rain continued overnight, one more person was injured, and the number of temporary evacuees increased significantly. There were damages to 31 public facilities and 71 private facilities, and 97 roads nationwide were closed.

According to the heavy rain response report released by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) at 6 a.m. on the day, the number of casualties increased by one compared to the previous count (11 p.m. the previous day), totaling 9 people (2 dead, 1 missing, 6 injured).

The number of temporary evacuees reached 882 people from 557 households across 55 cities and counties in 13 provinces, an increase of 555 people from the previous count. Among them, 772 people from 493 households have not returned home due to concerns about additional damage.

Due to concerns about the overflow of the Goesan Dam in Chungbuk, about 1,500 residents from three townships in Goesan-gun were evacuated in advance, and residents of Bonghwa-eup in Gyeongbuk were also evacuated due to flood concerns. According to the Hangang Water Control Office, Goesan-gun, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Goesan Hydroelectric Power Plant on the 15th, overflow occurred at Goesan Dam at 6:30 a.m. as water levels rose sharply.

The water level of Goesan Dam was 137.84m as of 7 a.m., exceeding the planned flood level of 136.93m. All sluice gates are open, releasing 2,524.41 tons per second, but the inflow volume is overwhelming the outflow. Earlier, Goesan-gun urgently mobilized staff from Cheongcheon-myeon Office from 3:40 a.m., just before the overflow, to evacuate all residents of Oesa-ri and Songdong-ri villages located just below the dam.

The Hangang Flood Control Office issued flood warnings for 16 locations on rivers and streams, including 11 in Chungnam and Chungbuk, 3 in Gyeongbuk, and 2 in Jeonbuk. The locations include Mokdo Bridge, Mihocheon Bridge, Chungmu Bridge, Yesan Bridge, Heungdeok Bridge, Geumgang Bridge, Baekje Bridge, Wonchon Bridge, Mannyeon Bridge, Nonsan Bridge, Hwangsan Bridge in Chungnam and Chungbuk; Hoeryong Bridge, Kimyong-ri, Sangpung Bridge in Gyeongbuk; and Samrye Bridge, Iljuk-ri in Jeonbuk.

Currently, 97 roads nationwide, including 27 in Gyeongbuk, are closed. Train services on four lines?Yeongdong, Taebaek, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk?are suspended on all sections, while partial suspensions are in place on Honam, Jeolla, Gyeongjeon, and Gyeongbu lines. Additionally, 384 trails in 19 national parks are closed.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts an additional 100 to 200mm of rain until the 16th in Chungcheong, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and northern inland Gyeongbuk. Rainfall of 30 to 80mm is expected in southern Gyeonggi, central inland Gangwon, southern inland Gangwon, Gangwon mountainous areas, southern coast of Jeonnam, and Yeongnam region.

Rainfall of 10 to 60mm is expected in Seoul, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi, and northern inland Gangwon, according to the Meteorological Administration.

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