Death Toll from Heavy Rain Rises to 40... More Rain Expected in Affected Areas on the 17th

As of 10 AM on the 17th, 34 Injured, 9 Missing
Continuous Monsoon Rain... 150mm Forecast for Chungcheong and Southern Regions

As of 10 a.m. on the 17th, 83 casualties and missing persons have been reported nationwide due to the heavy rain that started pouring down on the 14th. With recovery efforts in the affected areas progressing slowly, additional damage is feared as more rain is expected on this day.

On the 14th, due to heavy rain, retaining walls collapsed on Hongjecheon-ro road in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where Seodaemun-gu officials are conducting emergency restoration work. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

◆ 40 Dead and 34 Injured Due to the ‘Suma (Water Demon)’ = According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 17th, the death toll reached 40 as of 10 a.m., an increase of 4 from the previous day. This was due to the discovery of four additional bodies, including a man presumed to be a bus driver, at the Osong Underpass in Cheongju, Chungbuk, early that morning. Nationwide, 34 people were injured and 9 are missing due to this rainy season.

The number of deaths by region is 19 in Gyeongbuk, 15 in Chungbuk, 4 in Chungnam, and 1 in Sejong. Injuries are 17 in Gyeongbuk, 13 in Chungbuk, 2 in Chungnam, 1 in Gyeonggi, and 1 in Jeonnam, while missing persons are 8 in Gyeongbuk and 1 in Busan. The human casualties were significant in Gyeongbuk, where landslides were concentrated in areas such as Yecheon and Bonghwa. In the case of the Osong Underpass, water has almost drained due to drainage work continuing since the 15th, accelerating the search, which may increase the scale of damage. The number of disaster victims from this rainy season has also exceeded 10,000. As of 10 a.m. on the 17th, 10,570 people are evacuated across 111 cities, counties, and districts nationwide.

Seoul is also experiencing ongoing effects from the heavy rain. As of 10 a.m. on this day, two-way traffic is restricted at three locations: the Jamsu Bridge, Gaehwa Yukkapmun, and Mangwon Nadeulmok Yukkapmun. The Dangsan Nadeulmok Yukkapmun reopened at 9 a.m., the Olympic-daero Yeoui Sangryu IC entrance and exit ramp reopened at 5 a.m., and the Yeoui Haryu IC reopened at 12:45 a.m.

Heavy rain continued overnight with a heavy rain warning issued across Seoul, causing the Han River water level to rise. On the 14th, all traffic on the Jamsu Bridge in Seoul has been completely banned. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

◆ More Heavy Rain Today... Beware of Landslides = The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that heavy rain comparable to last weekend is expected in some regions on the 17th. Especially, very heavy rain is forecasted over the 17th and 18th, mainly in the Chungcheong region and Gyeongbuk. As of 7 a.m. on the 17th, heavy rain warnings were issued for Yeongwol in Gangwon-do, Chungnam (except Taean, Dangjin, Seosan), Chungbuk, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk (except Yeongdeok and Uljin plains), Gyeongnam, mountainous areas of Jeju Island, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Ulsan, and Sejong.

The expected rainfall over the two days from the 17th to 18th by region is ▲ 50-150 mm in Chungcheong and southern regions (with over 200 mm in some parts of Jeolla and Gyeongnam) ▲ 30-80 mm in southern Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous areas of southern Gangwon, northern and eastern Jeju, Ulleungdo and Dokdo ▲ 50-150 mm in mountainous areas of Jeju, 5-60 mm in western and southern Jeju, and ▲ Seoul, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi, and Gangwon (excluding southern inland and mountainous areas). The weather in the metropolitan area is expected to clear gradually from the afternoon.

As heavy rain is forecasted to continue in the Chungcheong region and Gyeongbuk, where damage has been severe, the CDSCH advised preparing for additional disasters in these areas. The Korea Meteorological Administration stated, "With heavy rain warnings in effect for southern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, Chungcheong, southern regions, and Jeju, strong rain of 10-30 mm per hour is expected mainly in Jeonbuk, the western coast of Jeonnam, and northwestern inland Gyeongbuk," urging residents in high-risk areas to assess the situation and evacuate proactively.

Landslide warnings and advisories have been issued in areas where the ground has been weakened by heavy rain. As of 9 a.m. on this day, the Korea Forest Service issued landslide warnings and advisories to 88 local governments nationwide, including 14 locations in Jeonbuk, 13 in Chungnam and Jeonnam, 11 in Chungbuk, and 8 in Gyeongbuk.

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