Three Days of Rain Cause 828 Damage Cases; 557 Evacuated

Three days of rain, centered on the central region, caused 828 cases of damage nationwide, including flooding of houses and roads and landslides and rockfalls. With the monsoon season expected to continue this week, the government has decided to maintain its emergency response system for the time being.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 20th, most of the heavy rain warnings issued nationwide had been lifted as of 5 a.m. that day. However, some parts of the Chungcheong region are currently receiving 10 to 20 millimeters of rain per hour, and an additional 30 to 80 millimeters is forecast to fall by that night, centered on the central region, due to the influence of a stationary front.

Since the 17th, North Gyeongsang Province's Yeongju recorded cumulative rainfall of 206.8 millimeters. This was followed by Paju in Gyeonggi Province with 197.5 millimeters, Dongducheon in Gyeonggi Province with 195.5 millimeters, Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province with 189.5 millimeters, Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province with 185.5 millimeters, Cheorwon in Gangwon Province with 171.1 millimeters, Yangju in Gyeonggi Province with 170.5 millimeters, and Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province with 167.0 millimeters.

No casualties occurred from this concentrated downpour. However, a total of 828 damage cases were reported nationwide, including 256 cases of flooding of houses and roads and 572 cases of landslides and rockfalls. Crop damage occurred over 41.6 hectares, centered on Andong, Uiseong, Gimcheon, and Yecheon in North Gyeongsang Province. By item, paddy soybeans were damaged over 11.7 hectares, chili peppers over 9.5 hectares, apples over 6.1 hectares, and cucumbers over 1.5 hectares. Flooded farmland was tallied at 7.1 hectares.

Due to the concentrated downpour, 557 residents in 20 cities and counties nationwide were temporarily evacuated. Of these, 438 have returned home, while 83 are currently staying in temporary housing facilities and 36 at the homes of relatives.

Passenger ships, aircraft, and railways are all operating normally. However, the Nokseon Intersection–Eopyeongjae section of National Road No. 31 is fully closed in both directions as a follow-up measure to rockfalls. The Seobyeok–Yeongwol section of Local Road No. 88 is also closed due to fallen trees on steep slopes and soil runoff, and with on-site measures completed, authorities plan to decide whether to lift the closure that morning.

At national parks, access is restricted along 61 trail sections in five parks.

The government plans to maintain the Level 2 disaster response, activated since the 18th, for the time being. Centered on the headquarters, it is strengthening surveillance and inspection of campgrounds, camping sites, valleys, semi-basement homes, underpasses, and small streams, as well as reinforcing situation management and response posture. As of that day, surveillance and safety inspections had been carried out at some 151,800 locations, including rain gutters, camping sites, and campgrounds, across 12 cities and provinces.

In addition, the headquarters plans to make every effort in situation management, including monitoring weather conditions and inspecting and controlling hazardous areas.