Heavy Rain Bombards Gyeongnam, Roads Flooded and Manholes Backflow Continue

The road in front of Changwon City Municipal Sangbok Park in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam was flooded with rainwater.
[Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters]

On the 16th, heavy rain warnings were issued across the province, causing road flooding and manhole backflows in the Gyeongnam region.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, an average rainfall of 84.3mm was recorded in the Gyeongnam area from midnight to 3 p.m. that day.

The Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters and Changwon Fire Headquarters responded with drainage support, facility safety measures, and rescue operations.

A firefighter is securing a stranded rescuee trapped by rising water to rescue equipment to move them to the opposite side.
[Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters]

At around 10:28 a.m., a woman in her 70s was rescued by firefighters after becoming stranded due to rising river water while working early in the fields in Jindong-myeon, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon City.

Roads near Changwon City’s Seongsan-gu Changwon Municipal Sangbok Park and the highway intersection in Yuhadong, Gimhae City, were submerged in water.

Many places experienced flooding in building basements and construction sites, and some manholes overflowed.

As of 3 p.m., the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters had responded to 18 rain-related dispatches, and the Changwon Fire Headquarters to 37, with no casualties reported.

Since 9 a.m. on the 14th, Gyeongnam Province has been in a constant state of readiness for heavy rain response and escalated to emergency duty level 1 at 10 a.m. on the 16th.

To prevent casualties, the province preemptively restricted access to low-water bridges, underpasses, riverside walking trails, floodplain parking lots, and roads within the province.

The province plans to maintain the current system until the heavy rain warning is lifted and the situation is resolved, monitoring weather conditions in real time.

A firefighter is unclogging a drain at Samdong Intersection, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters]

Earlier, Governor Park Wan-su instructed, “Swiftly restrict access to flood-prone areas such as coastal zones at risk of overflow, low-lying riverside areas, floodplain parking lots, underpasses, and low-water bridges, and thoroughly prevent flooding.”

He also ordered control and preemptive evacuation of dangerous areas such as mountainous regions, campers, riverside walking trails, and floodplains.

He added, “Urgently re-inspect vulnerable facilities at risk of landslides and collapses, underground pump facilities, and other municipal management facilities. If any risk factors are found, take immediate action,” and urged, “Strengthen patrols to check drainage functions such as roadside drains and promptly implement safety measures.”

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