Overnight downpours trigger evacuations, flooding in South Jeolla

Social Affairs

Published: 16 Jul. 2024, 12:37

Overnight downpours trigger evacuations, flooding in South Jeolla

Three cars in a basement parking lot are submerged by muddy water on Tuesday in Wando County, South Jeolla. [JEONNAM FIRE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS]

Overnight downpours pummeled southwest regions in South Jeolla, resulting in evacuations, flooding and heightened landslide hazards.

Jindo County received 168.5 millimeters (6.63 inches) of rain between 5 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration’s Gwangju Regional Office of Meteorology. The accumulated precipitation in Wando and Haenam Counties was 157 millimeters and 127.5 millimeters, respectively.

At around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Jindo recorded an hourly precipitation of 103.5 millimeters. Haenam received 78.1 millimeters of rain in an hour at around the same time, setting a county record for hourly precipitation in July. Tuesday’s rain replaced the previous record made in July 2021 — 63.4 millimeters in an hour. The weather agency said such heavy rain is likely to happen once every 200 years.

As heavy rain battered the region intensely in a short period, fire services conducted 97 safety measures as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

In Wando County, more than 10 vehicles in an apartment’s basement parking space were inundated by muddy water. In Haenam County, ground soil on a slope of farmland slid into a house, forcing residents to seek shelter at a nearby community center.

Additionally, roads in the traditional market area were flooded. In Jindo County, first responders searched for any missing persons after an excavator fell into a stream. No casualties have been reported.

Due to the landslide risk, 57 residents evacuated overnight in South Jeolla. Heavy rain advisories are in effect in South Jeolla’s counties of Gokseong, Gurye, Hwasun, Goheung and Boseong, and the cities of Yeosu, Gwangyang and Suncheon as of 10:50 a.m.

The weather agency said that Gwangju and northern areas in South Jeolla are likely to receive rain starting Tuesday at noon. On Tuesday, Gwangju and inland areas in South Jeolla are expected to receive 30 to 80 millimeters of rain, while coastal areas in South Jeolla are predicted to have rain exceeding 100 millimeters.

An official from the weather agency urged people to exercise extra caution regarding safety and managing facilities, as strong and heavy rain could cause significant damage.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]