Heavy rain warnings issued after severe downpour
People run through the rain near Noryangjin Station in Dongjak-gu, central Seoul, July 9. / Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
Heavy rain alerts have been issued, with rivers in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces flooding rapidly and people in cities and villages worrying about their safety.
Early on Monday afternoon, Gangwon Regional Office of Meteorology issued alerts for the province’s seven cities ― Chuncheon, Wonju, Hoengseong, Yeongwol, Hongcheon, Pyongchang and Jeongseon. Earlier alerts were issued for Cheorwon and Hwacheon.
Heavy rain has been falling on the cities since Sunday.
Up till Monday afternoon, Hwacheon had had 69 millimeters, Wonju and Munmak 62 millimeters, Hoengseong and Anheung 61 millimeters, Chuncheon 54 millimeters and Cheorwon 53 millimeters.
At Paldang Dam, between Seoul and Paldang Lake 24 kilometers east, five gates were opened at about 1:20 p.m., releasing 2,464 tons of water per second.
The province’s western region is expected to receive up to 150 millimeters of rain until Tuesday. The eastern region is expected to receive up to 80 millimeters.
Gyeonggi Province’s 28 cities were also put on alert.
As of noon Monday, Yangpyeong had 70 millimeters, Gapyeong 69 millimeters, Pocheon and Yangju 65 millimeters, Siheung 59 millimeters and Yeoju 56 millimeters.
Seoul’s meteorological watchdog said heavy rain had eroded mountainous terrain, raising the risk of landslide and overflowing reservoirs.
Alerts were also issued to the middle regions, including Jincheon in North Chungcheong Province and Cheonan and Gongju in South Chungcheong Province, which had received more than 55 millimeters as of 11 a.m. Monday.
At around 11:30 a.m. Monday, the Ministry of Public Safety and Security warned citizens of Yeoncheon and Paju in Gyeonggi Province not to fish or play around Imjin River, where the water level had risen one meter above the maximum safety bar.
Korean meteorological authorities issue heavy rain alerts when precipitation reached 70 millimeters in six hours or 110 millimeters for 12 hours. Heavy rain warnings are issued when rainfall reaches 110 millimeters in six hours or 180 millimeters in 12 hours.