Nationwide Landslide Crisis Alert Raised to 'Caution' Level... "Heavy Rain Expected Until the 18th"

A nationwide "Caution" level landslide crisis alert has been issued.

The Korea Forest Service announced that as of 2:30 p.m. on July 16, the landslide crisis alert will be raised to the "Caution" level for the following regions: Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, Chungbuk, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Jeju.

Including Gangwon, where the "Caution" level had already been issued, the entire country is now under a "Caution" level landslide crisis alert.

Last year, heavy rain caused a landslide on a hillside, washing down soil and trees that covered the area near residential houses. The photo is unrelated to the article. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heavy rain warnings are currently in effect for parts of Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Chungnam, while heavy rain advisories have been issued for Seoul, Daejeon, Sejong, and Jeonbuk.

It is forecasted that these regions will receive 50 to 150mm of rain, with some areas expected to see over 200mm by July 18. In particular, rainfall of 30 to 50mm per hour is expected in some areas, which significantly increases the risk of landslides and calls for heightened vigilance.

The Korea Forest Service explained that it raised the landslide crisis alert for 16 provinces and metropolitan cities after comprehensively considering the rainfall forecast and the amount of rain that has already fallen.

Choi Hyunsoo, director of the Landslide Prevention Division at the Korea Forest Service, stated, "With the elevation of the landslide crisis alert, the public should pay close attention to emergency disaster text messages (CBS) and village broadcasts to prepare for any possible emergencies. In particular, since heavy rain is forecasted until July 18, we strongly advise people to refrain from outdoor activities as much as possible and to promptly move to designated shelters such as community centers if evacuation orders are issued."

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