Nationwide damage continues to climb as two-day downpour torments Korea

Social Affairs

Published: 18 Jul. 2024, 18:35 Updated: 18 Jul. 2024, 18:49

Nationwide damage continues to climb as two-day downpour torments Korea

Firefighters rescue workers who were stranded inside a factory in Paju, Gyeonggi, due to heavy rain on Thursday morning. [YONHAP]

Torrential downpours that persisted for two days nationwide have led to severe damage, missing people, resident evacuations and the closure of land and air routes.

Two people went missing after a ship capsized at a swelling reservoir in Gosam-myeon in Anseong, Gyeonggi, at 10:46 a.m. They have not been found as of 5 p.m.

A landslide struck Unsan-myeon in Seosan, South Chungcheong, at 10:04 a.m., burying a man in his 90s. He was rescued and is reportedly recovering without major injuries, according to fire authorities.

Earlier, at 4:50 a.m., fire authorities received a report of a car sinking in Paju, Gyeonggi. While four cars were submerged, all five passengers managed to escape, authorities said. Firefighters also rescued six workers stranded in factories in the city around 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

In Paju, extreme downpours reached a staggering 365.9 millimeters (14.4 inches) from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday.

At 2:25 a.m., a landslide in Yangju, Gyeonggi, caused part of a block at a construction site to fall down, burying a house. While no one was injured, part of the house was destroyed, forcing four residents to evacuate.

Downpours also led to the cancellation of 25 international flights departing from Incheon International Airport from midnight through 8 a.m., while four others were forced to return after takeoff. Many flights experienced departure and arrival delays.

With some areas witnessing over 300 millimeters of rainfall a day, many roads were blocked off, leading to severe inconveniences for commuters. Entrances to 29 streams and eight roads were closed, including both directions of the Dongbu Expressway linking Seoul to Gyeonggi and part of the Seongsu direction of the internal circulation road, from Majang to Seongdong.

Around 2:30 p.m., police temporarily closed the entrance to Jamsugyo Bridge, a submersible bridge across the Han River, as a preemptive action.

Most road closures were lifted by 4:30 p.m.

In Seoul, sections of subway line No. 1 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line temporarily halted operations due to the heavy downpour. According to Korail, from 10:22 a.m. to 11:59 a.m., regular trains and some KTX services in both directions between Sema Station and PyeongtaekJije Station on the Gyeongbu Line were also suspended.

Authorities issued immediate evacuation orders to some residents in Osan and Pyeongtaek, both in Gyeonggi, Dangjin in South Chungcheong and some areas in Gimpo due to swollen streams in the areas.

According to the Ministry of Education, 32 schools in Gyeonggi and Incheon shortened school hours as of 10 a.m., while about 30 schools reported facility damage.

The capital region on Thursday experienced hourly precipitation of 30 to 60 millimeters, prompting flood alerts for numerous streams in the greater Seoul area.

The Korea Forest Service also raised its landslide alerts to the highest level of "serious" for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon as of 7:30 a.m., advising people to evacuate promptly in case of emergency. Some alerts were lifted, including Eumseong County in North Chungcheong, as of 4:50 p.m.

The monsoon rain is expected to continue, centering on Chungcheong and the southern areas on Friday, while greater Seoul and Gangwon will see a lull in rain, according to the KMA.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]