Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters: 37 Dead and 9 Missing Due to Heavy Rain

The number of fatalities from the flooding accident at the Osong underpass in Chungbuk has increased, expanding the scale of casualties caused by the heavy rain.

As of 6 p.m. on the 16th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported that the total number of casualties was 46, including 37 deaths and 9 missing persons. This is an increase of 4 deaths compared to the announcement at 11 a.m. that day.

On the 16th, 119 rescue workers are searching for missing persons at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, which was flooded due to the collapse of the Miho River embankment. (Photo by Yonhap News)

The fatalities include 19 in Gyeongbuk, 13 in Chungbuk, 4 in Chungnam, and 1 in Sejong, totaling 37. The missing persons are 8 in Gyeongbuk and 1 in Busan, totaling 9.

The number of deaths from the vehicle flooding accident at the Gungpyeong underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, has increased. Fifteen vehicles were trapped in the underpass, and so far, 9 deaths have been confirmed. Drainage and rescue operations are currently underway, with a drainage rate of 70%.

At around 8:40 a.m. on the 15th, water poured into the Gungpyeong 2 underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, flooding 15 vehicles. Due to the heavy rain, the river water level rose rapidly, and the embankment of the Mihogang River collapsed, causing river water to pour into the underpass. Within 2 to 3 minutes, about 60,000 tons of water filled the 430-meter-long underpass tunnel.

It is known that on the day of the accident, the Geumgang Flood Control Office informed the local district office that traffic control was necessary, but no traffic control was implemented. There was also no facility installed at the Gungpyeong underpass to automatically block traffic when there was a risk of flooding. Chungbuk Province reportedly received a grant of 700 million won from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at the end of June and planned to install barriers within this year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of injured due to this heavy rain reached 35 in areas including Gyeongbuk and Chungbuk. Apart from casualties from the heavy rain, safety accidents accounted for 4 deaths and 1 missing person.

Nationwide, the number of residents who evacuated in advance due to the heavy rain increased to 8,852 across 98 cities, counties, and districts in 14 provinces. This includes 2,581 in Gyeongbuk, 2,462 in Chungnam, 2,383 in Chungbuk, and 635 in Jeonbuk. Among the evacuated residents, 5,541 have not yet returned home.

As the heavy rain continues, the scale of crop flooding damage has surged to 19,769.7 hectares, equivalent to about 28,000 soccer fields (0.714 hectares each). Approximately 183,000 livestock, including chickens, have died.

Facility damages, including road washouts and retaining wall collapses, totaled 419 cases. Public facility damages increased to 215 cases, including 48 cases of road slope washouts and collapses, 32 cases of road damage and washouts, 8 cases of retaining wall and stone wall damage, 32 cases of soil runoff, 59 cases of river embankment washouts, and 23 cases of flooding. Private facility damages amounted to 204 cases, including 82 houses flooded, 21 houses damaged, and 73 other cases including retaining wall damage.

Currently, 220 roads are closed. Railway operations on all general train lines have been suspended since the previous day, and although KTX is operating on some sections, it is running at reduced speeds due to the heavy rain. Twenty national parks (with 489 trails), 771 riverside areas, 254 floodplain parking lots, and 99 forest paths are also closed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Cumulative rainfall from the 9th to 5 p.m. on this day includes 626.0 mm in Gongju, Chungnam; 614.5 mm in Cheongyang, Chungnam; 580.5 mm in Sejong; 541.5 mm in Cheongju, Chungbuk; 521.5 mm in Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk; and 519.5 mm in Boeun, Chungbuk.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heavy rain warnings are currently in effect for the southern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, the Chungcheong region, southern regions, and Jeju Island. Very heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, with hourly rainfall of 30 to 60 mm, is occurring in the southern coast of Jeonnam and the coastal areas of Gyeongnam.

By the 18th, more than 300 mm of heavy rain is expected in the Chungcheong region, Jeonbuk, and northern inland Gyeongbuk. The stationary front is slowly moving northward, likely bringing continuous heavy rain. In the Jeonnam and Gyeongnam regions, hourly rainfall of 30 to 60 mm is expected until early tomorrow morning, and in the Chungcheong, Gyeongbuk, and Jeonbuk regions, heavy rain of 30 to 60 mm per hour will concentrate from tonight until tomorrow morning.

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