Heavy monsoon rains persisted across the country during the Constitution Day holiday, submerging homes and roads and stranding residents as damage mounted. In Daegu, 89㎜ of rain fell within one hour, and in northern North Gyeongsang Province, even temporary housing for wildfire evacuees was flooded. The monsoon rains are forecast to spread nationwide again from the 20th, with more than 100㎜ expected in some areas of northern Gyeonggi and northern Gangwon through the 21st.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 19th, 827 damage reports were received by 4 p.m. that day, including flooding of homes and roads and outflows of soil and falling rocks. Of these, 256 involved flooding of homes and roads and drainage support, while 571 involved safety measures related to soil and falling rocks. In Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, 3 hectares of crops were damaged.
In particular, at around 10:10 p.m. on the 17th, 89㎜ of rain fell within one hour in Jisan-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. The 15-minute rainfall reached 31.5㎜, prompting the first "disaster-level rainfall emergency alert" of this year. Cumulative rainfall from midnight on the 17th to 5 p.m. on the 19th reached 206.8㎜ in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, 197.5㎜ in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and 171.1㎜ in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. Boryeong in South Chungcheong Province recorded 126㎜, Mount Deogyu in Muju, North Jeolla Province, 122.5㎜, and Damyang in South Jeolla Province, 104.5㎜.
In northern North Gyeongsang Province, where damage was concentrated, 366 people from 292 households evacuated to village halls and senior centers, centered on Andong, Uiseong, Yeongju and Yecheon. In Namseon-myeon, Andong, 65.5㎜ of rain fell per hour. In Gugye-ri, Danchon-myeon, Uiseong-gun, a rural road was washed away, and 155 people including residents and campers took shelter. Temporary housing for evacuees who lost their homes in last year's massive wildfires was also flooded — 12 units in Uiseong and 11 in Andong. In Andong, the Baegil and Anmang streams overflowed, and two people aboard a camping vehicle swept away by the torrent were rescued.
Isolation and disappearance incidents continued in other regions as well. At a campground in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, a bridge crossing a stream was submerged, temporarily stranding 95 campers before they evacuated via a detour. In Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, a fishing enthusiast in his 40s crossing a weir on the Jucheon River fell into the water and went missing, with a search continuing. However, according to the Central Disaster Headquarters' official tally, no casualties from the rains were provisionally classified.
Falling rocks and power outages also followed. Falling rocks occurred on National Highway No. 5 in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, and National Highway No. 31 in Yeongwol, blocking traffic, and in Wonju, a brick structure beside an underpass collapsed, closing the road in both directions. In Jangseong, South Jeolla Province, a fallen tree struck power lines, cutting power to about 400 households, and in Yeongdong, North Chungcheong Province, a lightning strike temporarily cut power to 657 apartment households.
Nationwide, 500 people from 367 households temporarily evacuated in 20 cities and counties across six metropolitan areas and provinces, including Daegu, Sejong, Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang. Of these, 376 people from 287 households returned home, but 124 people from 80 households remain in temporary housing facilities or the homes of relatives.
Facility closures due to the heavy rain also continued. A total of 105 trail sections across nine national parks were closed, and access was restricted at 5,727 sites including riverbed roads, riverside parking lots, submersible bridges, riverside walking paths and campgrounds. Some road sections where falling rocks and soil outflows occurred, including National Highway No. 31 in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, were also closed.
Operations of five flights and four vessels on four passenger ferry routes, including Nokdong–Sinji and Wando–Modo, were suspended. Railways operated normally, but some sections saw reduced-speed operation and facility inspections. The Cheongpyeong Dam and Paldang Dam released 900 tons and 1,500 tons per second downstream, respectively, to control water levels.
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast 20 to 60㎜ of rain in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon's inland and mountainous regions, and 30 to 80㎜ in the Chungcheong region on the 20th. On the 21st, 30 to 80㎜ is expected in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon's inland and mountainous regions, with some areas of northern Gyeonggi and inland northern Gangwon receiving more than 100㎜.
The Central Disaster Headquarters is maintaining a crisis alert of "watch" and a Level 2 response system even after the heavy rain advisory was lifted. With additional rain forecast while the ground has already been weakened by heavy rainfall, it judges that the possibility of secondary damage such as landslides, falling rocks, retaining wall collapses and river flooding is high. Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung urged, "Please repeatedly inspect rain drains and drainage facilities, and carefully attend to necessary measures such as support for temporary housing facilities and relief supplies until evacuees return home."
