South Korea hit by most intense downpour in 200 years

Extremely heavy rains hit South Korea on July 9 and 10, 2024, claiming 4 lives and forcing thousands to evacuate for safety. The rains caused multiple flights and trains to be delayed and caused severe damage to infrastructure all over South Korea.

South Korea’s southern regions were hit by record heavy rains on July 9 and 10, marking the most intense downpour in 200 years, according to weather authorities.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that parts of North Jeolla Province were heavily affected, with Gunsan recording 131.7 mm (5.2 inches) of rain within one hour (until 02:24 local time (LT)) on July 10, setting the new record the heaviest hourly downpour nationwide.

This was over 10 percent of Gunsan’s average annual rainfall of 1 246 mm (49.1 inches) and is the highest since record-keeping began in 1907.

Eocheong-do saw 146 mm (5.7 inches) of rain in about an hour from 23:51 LT on July 9. The last time rainfall exceeding 140 mm (5.5 inches) in one hour was recorded in this area was on July 31, 1998.

Several regions experienced rainfall exceeding 100 mm (3.9 inches) in an hour, including Iksan in North Jeolla Province with 125.5 mm (4.9 inches), and Seocheon and Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province with 111.5 mm (4.4 inches) and 106.0 mm (4.2 inches) respectively.

The torrential rains claimed four lives and caused extensive damage.

In Nonsan, a studio apartment building was flooded around 03:00 LT on July 10, leading to the death of a man in a flooded elevator. A landslide in Seocheon-gun caused the collapse of a house around 03:57 LT, where a man in his 70s was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Another man in his 70s died in Okcheon after his car was swept into a swollen stream around 05:04 LT. A man in his 60s was also found dead in Daegu after being sucked into a drainage pipe while checking his vegetable field.

Authorities were also searching for a 71-year-old man who went missing in Yeongdong, North Chungcheong Province. His container shed floated away, and his vehicle was found submerged due to the rains.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes due to the floods. In Wanju, North Jeolla, rescuers evacuated 18 villagers stranded by a swollen stream.

A village in Nonsan was flooded, prompting about 30 residents to evacuate to a nearby village hall. Nearby, 40 residents in Ganggyeong were also evacuated.

In Daejeon, the entire Yongchon-dong community was flooded, leaving 27 houses inundated and 36 people stranded. Rescue operations were conducted, with rescue boats dispatched to assist the affected residents.

In South Gyeongsang Province, 76 households and 94 residents were relocated to nearby village halls, community centers, and churches following a flood alert issued when the Nakdong River’s water level rose rapidly.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters reported that as of July 10, 391 public facilities and 146 private facilities had been damaged. These included flooded roads, landslides, submerged bridges, and waterlogged vehicles and houses. A total of 3 568 people from 2 585 households were also evacuated.

The rains also caused delays and cancellations of flights and train services. Korea Railroad Corp announced the partial suspension or adjustment of train operations, including Mugunghwa and ITX-Saemaeul.

Train services on the Janghang Line in South Chungcheong and the Gyeongbuk Line in North Gyeongsang were suspended until 18:00 LT, while the Chungbuk Line halted services until 09:00 LT, July 10.

At Gimhae International Airport, 21 flights were canceled, and 16 others were delayed due to strong winds as of 07:00 LT, July 10.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently visiting the United States, instructed the “mobilization of all personnel and equipment available” under the leadership of the interior minister to “prioritize saving lives and preventing further damage.”

The ministry raised the emergency operations of the disaster control office from level 1 to 2 as of 02:30 LT, July 10. Lee urged all relevant agencies to prepare for “worst-case scenarios” and ensure that victims of the heavy rain can quickly return to their daily lives.

References:

¹ Rains pound South Korea causing landslides, bullet trains slowed – Reuters – July 10, 2024

² Rain batters Korea’s southern regions, ‘heaviest in 200 years’- Korean Herald – July 10, 2024

³ Four dead in record torrential rains in South Korea – CNA – July 10, 2024

Featured image credit: Yonhap