Up to 100mm per hour 'Extreme Heavy Rain' Coming Again Today... Beware of Manhole Covers and Electric Shock

Heavy and Intense Rain on the 18th in Chungcheong, Southern Regions, and Jeju-do
Frequent Manhole Cover Falls and Electrocution Accidents... "Avoid Approaching"

As the nationwide monsoon rains continue, damage caused by heavy rainfall is spreading. In areas where heavy rain has poured, accidents such as falling into open manholes or electric shocks due to the inability to withstand water pressure are occurring frequently, so special caution is required to prevent safety accidents.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted on the 18th that heavy and intense rain would focus on the Chungcheong region, southern areas, and Jeju Island. In the Chungcheong and southern regions, rain of 30 to 60 mm per hour is expected. In the Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions, heavy rain of 30 to 60 mm per hour is expected from dawn to morning; in Chungcheong in the afternoon; and in Jeonbuk and Gyeongbuk throughout the day. From the 18th to the morning of the 19th, Jeonnam and Gyeongnam regions will receive 30 to 60 mm (30 to 80 mm near the southern coast and Jirisan), and Jeju Island will receive 30 to 80 mm (over 100 mm in mountainous areas).

The expected rainfall from the 17th to the 19th is 100 to 200 mm in the Chungcheong region, southern areas, and Jeju Island (over 300 mm in some places, over 500 mm in Jeju mountainous areas). Southern Gyeonggi, southern inland/mountainous Gangwon, Ulleungdo/Dokdo will receive 30 to 100 mm (over 120 mm in some places), and Seoul, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi, and Gangwon (excluding southern inland/mountainous areas) will receive 10 to 60 mm.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Concerns are also rising that flooding may continue due to the large accumulated rainfall. The ground is weakened, so additional landslides and retaining wall collapses may occur.

Particularly, caution is needed as manhole cover accidents repeatedly occur during heavy rain. Open manholes are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, and accidents of falling into them without noticing continue. In August last year, during heavy rain of 100 mm per hour in Gangnam, Seocho-gu, Seoul, an adult brother and sister fell into a road manhole and went missing; both were later found deceased.

'Extreme heavy rain' causes manhole covers to be displaced. Although iron manhole covers weigh between 40 kg and 160 kg, they can be lifted off the ground due to water pressure. This can happen even if the manhole cover is equipped with a locking device.

Manhole covers with bubbles rising are even more dangerous. This phenomenon occurs when air inside the manhole is expelled due to rainwater pressure, signaling that the cover can pop up at any time.

Electric shock accidents should also be noted during the monsoon season. On August 8 last year, during 'unprecedented heavy rain,' two people died from electric shocks. On that day, in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, a 60-year-old district office worker was electrocuted while clearing fallen street trees caused by heavy rain, and a 50-year-old worker died from electric shock at a construction site in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. In July 2001, a major disaster occurred when 19 people died because the electric shock circuit breakers of streetlights failed to operate during heavy rain in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's National Disaster Safety Portal disaster action guidelines, to prevent electric shock accidents during heavy rain, people should avoid approaching hazardous areas such as construction sites, streetlights, traffic lights, and utility poles. Also, do not touch electrical facilities inside or outside the house that pose an electric shock risk. During power outages, use portable lanterns or mobile phones instead of candles. Going out should be avoided, but if unavoidable, do not approach areas where you can be swept away by rapid currents such as streams, riversides, and coastal areas, or areas at risk of flooding.

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