Torrential Rain Hits South Korea: Casualties Rise as Flooding Wreaks Havoc

Casualties began to mount as heavy rain battered South Korea’s western region, flooding roads, disrupting public transport, and forcing evacuations across multiple areas in Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong Provinces.

At least two people lost their lives as torrential downpours pummeled parts of Gyeonggi Province from early Wednesday through Thursday morning.

Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong, two cities in southern Gyeonggi Province, were inundated with over 80 millimeters of rain per hour on Thursday.

In nearby Osan, a 10-meter-high retaining wall collapsed, crushing a passing car and killing the driver, a man in his 40s.

The Chungcheong provinces bore the brunt of the deluge, with Seosan reporting a tragic incident where a driver in his 50s drowned after floodwaters swept away his car in the early hours of Thursday.

Seosan experienced the most intense rainfall, with precipitation rates peaking at 114.9 mm per hour.

At 9:35 a.m., disaster struck in Cheongyang-gun, a county in central South Chungcheong Province, when a landslide buried two residents. Fire officials reported that the victims, who sustained leg injuries, were rescued and transported to a local hospital by 9:50 a.m.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, operated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, reported alarming precipitation levels: 419.5 mm in Seosan, 411 mm in Hongseong, 376.5 mm in Dangjin, and 349.5 mm in Asan, all located in South Chungcheong Province.

The coastal county of Taean, west of Seosan, was also drenched with over 300 mm of rain on Thursday.

The ministry reported that 79 households in these areas were forced to undergo temporary evacuations.

By 10 a.m. on Thursday, the relentless downpour had displaced a total of 1,070 residents from their homes.

The severe weather conditions led to school closures in parts of South Chungcheong Province, including Yesan and Hongseong.

In response to the crisis, the Interior Ministry restricted access to nearly 80 underpasses, riverside roads, and low-level bridges in the Chungcheong area to ensure public safety.

As Thursday progressed, rainfall alerts continued to expand.

At 5 a.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration issued heavy rain warnings for Sejong, the Chungcheong provinces, and three areas of Gyeonggi Province. These warnings are triggered when forecasters expect 90 mm or more of rain within three hours, or 180 mm or more within 12 hours.

Heavy rain advisories were issued for Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, and cities and counties in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces. These advisories are declared when rainfall is expected to exceed 60 millimeters in three hours, or 110 mm within 12 hours.

The severe weather forced Korea Railroad Corp. to partially suspend or adjust regular train services, including routes from Seoul to Cheonan, Hongseong, and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province.

The storm’s impact extended beyond transportation, with over 374 trails in 15 national parks closed and 39 passenger ships across 31 sea routes unable to operate due to the hazardous conditions.

In response to the escalating situation, the Interior Ministry activated the second stage of its three-tier emergency response plan and raised the heavy rain alert to “caution,” the second-highest level in the four-level warning system.

“As we anticipate more heavy rain across the country, the government is committed to responding swiftly and effectively to minimize casualties,” said Kim Min-jae, the acting Interior Minister and head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, during an emergency response meeting on Thursday.

The emergency headquarters has directed relevant agencies to intensify monitoring of areas prone to landslides or other rain-related emergencies and to evacuate residents from these high-risk zones if necessary.

Looking ahead, the state weather agency warned that an additional 300 mm or more of rainfall could impact not only the Chungcheong area but also other southern provinces through Saturday, raising concerns of further flooding and landslides.