Up to 300mm More Rainfall Possible... Growing Worries in Flood-Affected Areas

Heavy Rainfall Up to 300mm Expected in Chungcheong by the 18th
Widespread Flood Damage Across Chungcheong, Gyeongbuk, and Nationwide

Amid ongoing damage in several regions including Gyeongbuk and Chungcheong due to heavy rain, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has forecasted that an additional deluge of up to 300mm could fall over two days from today (17th) to the 18th, raising concerns.

On the 16th, the KMA stated in a forecast briefing that heavy rain of about 100 to 250mm could pour over the mountainous areas of Chungcheong, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Jeju Island until the 18th. In particular, the Chungcheong region, Jeonbuk, and northern inland Gyeongbuk are expected to receive more than 300mm of rain. These areas are currently experiencing ongoing heavy rain damage.

Gangwon Province, excluding Seoul, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi, and southern inland mountainous areas, is expected to receive relatively less rain, about 20 to 60mm.

The heavy rain currently pouring nationwide is due to rain clouds formed domestically. Earlier, on the 12th, the KMA announced that a "narrow and long stationary front" was forming.

Marine police officers are conducting a foot search at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, which was flooded due to the collapse of the Miho Stream embankment in the early morning of the 17th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Cold and dry air collided with warm and humid air flowing in from the southwest, creating a narrow band of rain clouds. These rain clouds are moving back and forth between the northern and southern parts of the Korean Peninsula, scattering heavy rain.

Due to the heavy rain, casualties have already occurred in the central region. In particular, the damage in Chungcheong and Gyeongbuk areas is severe. According to data compiled by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) as of 11 p.m. on the 16th, the human damage from this heavy rain totals 79 people: 36 dead, 9 missing, and 34 injured.

In Osong, Chungbuk, about 60,000 tons of water poured into the Gungpyeong 2 underground road, submerging 15 vehicles in an instant. So far, 13 deaths and 9 injuries have been confirmed from this accident. Fire authorities are conducting search operations on foot to locate missing persons.

On the 16th, 119 rescue workers are recovering a missing person found deceased at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, which was flooded due to the collapse of the Miho River embankment. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In Gyeongbuk, landslides caused soil and debris to rush into nearby houses, resulting in 17 deaths as of the 15th. The number of people presumed missing reaches 9. Administrative and fire authorities are conducting rescue operations focusing on areas where missing reports have been filed, but many roads are buried or flooded due to the debris, causing difficulties in accessing the sites.

According to the Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters on the 16th, around 3:45 p.m., the body of a woman in her 60s, identified as A, was found near Baekseok-ri, Hyoja-myeon, Yecheon-gun during a search for missing persons. A is reported to be the wife of B, who previously appeared on the MBN entertainment program "I Am a Natural Person." The couple went missing after their house was buried in a landslide that occurred at 5:16 a.m. on the 15th. B's status remains unconfirmed.

On the afternoon of the 16th, residents are moving from the affected village at the landslide site in Beolbang-ri, Gamcheon-myeon, Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The scale of damage to crops and facilities is also significant. A total of 9,309.5 hectares (ha) of crops such as rice and soybeans were submerged. Private facility damage includes 22 houses flooded, 1 house partially or fully destroyed, and 39 other cases such as retaining wall damage, totaling 71 cases.

Public facilities also reported 31 cases of damage, including 10 cases of soil runoff, 6 cases of road slope collapse, and 2 cases of river embankment collapse.

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