50 Dead or Missing Due to Heavy Rain... Extreme Rainfall in Parts of the South Until Early Morning of the 19th

41 Dead, 9 Missing, 35 Injured, etc.
Monsoon Slows from the 20th... Resumes on the 22nd

The monsoon rains that have caused 50 deaths and missing persons nationwide continue on the 18th. This monsoon is forecasted to ease temporarily on the 20th but will resume raining across the country from the weekend.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), as of 10 a.m. on this day, there have been 50 deaths and missing persons and 35 injuries due to heavy rain. The number of deaths and missing persons caused by the heavy rain is the highest in 12 years since 78 in 2011.

The body of the last missing person was found at Gungpyeong 2nd Underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, increasing the nationwide death toll from this heavy rain to 41. Although the official search operation ended at 9 p.m. on the 17th, additional searches near the underpass will continue after the 18th. Search operations are still ongoing for eight missing persons in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, and as of the morning of the 18th, the total number of missing persons nationwide is nine, including one missing person in Busan.

The number of disaster victims caused by this heavy rain reached 8,005 households and 12,709 people across 16 cities and provinces and 123 counties nationwide. Among them, 3,771 households and 5,672 people have not yet returned home. Damage to facilities and property continues to increase, with 912 public facilities and 574 private facilities damaged, mainly in Chungnam, Chungbuk, Gyeongbuk, and Jeonbuk. There were also 157 cases of road slope erosion and collapse, and 60 cases of road damage and erosion. Damage included 274 houses flooded and 46 houses damaged.

Road controls in Seoul city were lifted except for the Jamsu Bridge as of 10 a.m. on this day. The Jamsu Bridge, which has been closed for five days since the 14th, may reopen for traffic as the Han River water level gradually decreases, possibly as early as this day.

The monsoon is expected to continue. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that extreme rain of up to 80mm per hour will pour in the southern coast and near Jirisan until dawn on the 19th. Over the three days from the 17th to the 19th, 300mm or more of rain is expected in the Chungcheong region, southern areas, and Jeju Island, especially 400mm or more near the southern coast, Jirisan area, and mid-mountain areas of Jeju Island (over 500mm in Jeju mountain areas).

On the 13th, during the ongoing summer monsoon, the walkway along Cheonggyecheon in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is closed to the public. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

There are growing concerns about additional damage as the monsoon rains may continue until the end of this month. The stationary front is expected to move southward to the southeast sea of Japan and southern China from the 20th, causing rain mainly in the southern regions and showing a temporary lull, then move north again from the weekend on the 22nd, bringing rain nationwide.

The police have issued a 'Gapho Emergency' to police stations in Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, which suffered heavy rain damage, and in southern Gyeonggi and Jeju areas where heavy rain is expected. When a Gapho Emergency is declared, police officers belonging to the relevant police stations must actively respond to emergency situations regardless of their function or jurisdiction. The National Police Agency has deployed about 600 police officers from 10 police units in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, to the flood-affected areas of Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, and Jeonbuk.

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