Heavy overnight rains across South Korea triggered landslides and flooding, forcing the evacuation of more than 500 people in southern regions as roads and buildings were submerged on Saturday.
Heavy rain warnings were in effect across the southern Gyeongsang region and parts of Gangwon, Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces as of Saturday morning, with up to 60 millimeters of more rainfall expected, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
A road in the southeastern port city of Busan is flooded after heavy rainfall on Sept. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A road in the southeastern port city of Busan is flooded after heavy rainfall on Sept. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported that 506 people from 342 households in North and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan and South Chungcheong Province were evacuated as of 4 a.m. due to the heavy rains.
The
majority of them, 436, were residents of North Gyeongsang Province.
Most of the evacuees — 494 people from 330 households — remained displaced, taking shelter in temporary or community facilities, the government said.
Heavy rains also flooded 54 sections of public roads, leading to seven incidents of soil loss and the collapse of a retaining wall.
A total of 10 private houses were also inundated, impacting more than 10 private facilities, such as stores and factories.
A stream running across several districts in Daejeon remains swollen on Sept. 21, 2024, following heavy rain overnight. (Yonhap)
A stream running across several districts in Daejeon remains swollen on Sept. 21, 2024, following heavy rain overnight. (Yonhap)
As of Saturday morning, 38 sections of roads in Gangwon and South Gyeongsang provinces and other areas, along with 41 underground roadways, were blocked due to safety concerns. Additionally, 430 sections of 17 national parks across the nation remained inaccessible.
The interior minis
try raised the heavy rain warning level from “caution” to “alert.”
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urgently instructed officials to mobilize all available administrative resources to mitigate rain damage and prepare for further heavy rainfall due to the approaching tropical cyclone Pulasan on the southern coast.
“In cases of anticipated damage, police and firefighters should cooperate to preemptively evacuate residents, while public employees should be dispatched to areas at risk of flooding until the heavy rainfall subsides,” he said.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
