Rainfall Emergency Alert Raised to Level 2 as Seoul Metropolitan Area and Gangwon Province Hit by Torrential Downpours; Expanded Nationwide to Chungcheong and Beyond

[Financial News] As intense rain exceeding 50 mm per hour poured down mainly across the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province, the government raised the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) to Level 2 and upgraded the heavy rain crisis alert to “serious.” As the rain band moves south, heavy rainfall is expected to expand to Sejong City and the Chungcheong region from this morning, prompting heightened caution throughout the weekend.
According to the CDSCHQ under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as of 5 a.m. on the 18th, heavy rain warnings were in effect for parts of Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, and Gangwon Province, while heavy rain advisories were issued for Daejeon, Sejong City, and South Chungcheong Province. Cumulative rainfall since the 17th reached 123.5 mm in Gimpo, 120.4 mm in Boryeong, and 117.5 mm in Seoul’s Gangseo District. In some areas, including Gangseo and Eunpyeong District, hourly rainfall peaked at 59.0 mm. Flood advisories were issued for three locations, including Mokgam Stream in Seoul and Sincheon Stream in Gyeonggi Province, and access restrictions and monitoring are under way.
No casualties have been reported so far, but property damage and evacuations have continued. More than 22 emergency drainage and water removal operations were carried out in response to flooded homes and roads, and 186 safety measures were implemented, including debris removal and fallen trees. A total of 28 residents from 15 households in Daegu, South Chungcheong Province, and North Gyeongsang Province evacuated urgently due to concerns over landslides and retaining wall collapses. Of them, 17 have not yet returned home and are staying in temporary shelters or with relatives.
Weekend travel plans and traffic safety have also been affected. National Route 37 in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, was closed due to flooding, and 254 sections across 10 national parks nationwide have been blocked. In addition, a total of 6,553 major facilities, including 5,910 riverside walking paths, 105 riverside parking lots, 81 low-water crossings, and underpasses and riverbed roads, have been closed for safety.
Given the severity of the situation, the government raised the alert level at 4:30 a.m. and activated the NFA’s Central Emergency Rescue Control Group, strengthening its emergency response system. The minister of the Interior and Safety and related agencies are continuing inspections and monitoring of high-risk facilities such as semi-basement homes, underpasses, and landslide-prone areas. A CDSCHQ official said, "We will monitor weather conditions in real time and do everything we can to ensure safety management, including preemptive restrictions in dangerous areas and evacuations of residents."  

monarch@fnnews.com Kim Man-gi Reporter