Seoul lifts heavy rain alert... switches to reinforced emergency duty, with some rivers and roads still restricted

[Financial News] Seoul has lowered its emergency response level after the heavy rain alert in effect across the city was lifted. However, the city said it will continue monitoring river levels and vulnerable areas, as more rain is forecast. Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 18th that, as all heavy rain alerts for the city were lifted at 7:30 a.m., it switched from Level 2 emergency duty to a reinforced duty system at 8 a.m.
Earlier, heavy rain warnings were issued across Seoul as downpours of around 50 mm per hour hit the southwestern and northwestern areas. Since the previous day, Eunpyeong District recorded the most rainfall at 166.0 mm, while flood warnings were issued for Gangseo District, Eunpyeong District and Mapo District, and flood advisories were issued for Yangcheon District and Mapo District.
Due to the heavy rain, vehicle traffic was restricted on some roads, including the Dongbu Expressway and the roads under Jungsan Bridge and Haengju 1 Bridge. As the strong rain cloud system moved east, the intensity of rainfall gradually weakened.
But the rain is not over yet. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast another 30 to 80 mm of rain in Seoul through the 19th. It also said there is a chance of heavy rain of 20 to 30 mm per hour during the daytime on the 18th and early on the 19th.
Traffic remains restricted on 29 streams in the city, as well as four roads: the road under Jungsan Bridge, the road under Haengju 1 Bridge, the Dongbu Expressway and Garam-gil.
A flood advisory remains in place for Neobudae Bridge on Mokgam Stream, and related agencies are continuing to check river levels. Twenty rainwater pumping stations are also partially operating to prevent flooding.
A total of 120 damage-response cases have been reported in connection with the heavy rain. Drainage support accounted for the largest share at 89 cases, followed by four cases of fallen trees and 27 cases of safety measures for facilities.
Seoul Metropolitan Government instructed all departments and affiliated agencies to strengthen safety management in preparation for the rain and carried out intensive inspections of flood-prone facilities such as streams, low-lying areas and storm drains.
The city inspected 13,338 storm drains, cleaned 5,031 of them and removed 746 covers. It also maintained drainage facilities in underpasses and catch basins on exclusive-use roads, while carrying out emergency pothole repairs.
In addition, it conducted inspections and drainage maintenance in 723 landslide-prone areas, along with safety checks at parks and construction sites and tree maintenance along roadsides. Preventive safety management was also carried out through companion partners for 925 households in disaster-vulnerable groups, including semi-basement homes.
Seoul Metropolitan Government said it has scaled back emergency duty, but will deploy 324 workers from the city and district offices to continue monitoring weather conditions and river levels and do its utmost to prevent further damage.

[email protected] Kang Jung-mo Reporter