Torrential rain causes tree falls and car crashes nationwide

Heavy Rain Disrupts Daily Life Across the Country

On the 20th, heavy rain swept across most regions of the country, leading to a series of incidents that disrupted daily life. The downpours caused fallen trees, overturned vehicles, and stranded individuals, prompting emergency services to respond quickly.

In Chungcheongnam-do, anglers found themselves trapped by rising river waters and were eventually rescued. Meanwhile, in Jeollabuk-do, a passenger vehicle skidded on a wet road and caught fire. According to reports from the Chungcheongnam-do Fire Headquarters, there were nine cases of damage reported overnight, including traffic accidents and stranded individuals.

At around 12:17 a.m., a tree fell in a tunnel in Dujeong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan City. Shortly after, at 12:39 a.m., another tree collapsed at an apartment complex in Yesan-eup, Yesan County. From 4:47 a.m. onwards, reports of fallen trees continued in Dangjin, Cheonan, and Geumsan, totaling seven incidents. Authorities took necessary safety measures to prevent further damage.

No casualties were reported from these events. However, at around 5:51 a.m., a single-vehicle accident occurred on a slope in Godae-myeon, Dangjin City, with the driver being transported to a hospital.

In Asan City, at around 6:06 a.m., firefighters began rescue operations for anglers stranded due to rising waters at Gokgyo Stream in Silok-dong. The individuals were unharmed and returned home safely.

In Daejeon, a tree fell on a road in Munhwa-dong, Jung-gu, around 3:48 a.m., causing traffic disruptions. Safety measures were implemented to manage the situation. In Samgoe-dong, Dong-gu, a taxi overturned while driving, and the driver was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital.

Sejong saw a fire break out in the yard of a single-family home in Geumam-ri, Janggun-myeon, around 5:22 a.m. The fire was extinguished after 22 minutes. Earlier, at 1:33 a.m., a report was received about suspected electrical leakage, including sparks from roof wiring, at a house in Wolha-ri, Yeonseo-myeon, and safety measures were taken.

Impact in Jeollabuk-do and Busan

Rainfall also led to traffic accidents in Jeollabuk-do. According to the Jeollabuk-do Fire Headquarters, a passenger vehicle skidded on a rainy road at the 6.8 km mark of the Gochang-Damyang Expressway (downward lane) in Gochang County around 8:32 p.m. the previous day. The driver was unharmed, but the vehicle was completely burned, and three nearby pine trees caught fire, resulting in property damage estimated at 20.24 million Korean won. Police are investigating the incident, assuming the vehicle skidded alone on the wet road.

In Busan, a water tank blown by strong winds fell on an SUV in Yongho-dong, Nam-gu, around 5:24 a.m., shattering its windows. Fortunately, there were no casualties. At around 5:37 a.m., a report was received about flooding at a factory in Gijang County, Busan. Firefighting authorities installed drainage pumps at the site to remove water.

Weather Forecast and Warnings

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is expected across most regions of the country on the 20th. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast that the country would generally be cloudy, with clouds gradually increasing from the night. Rain that began the previous day was expected to continue until the afternoon, with mountainous areas and the eastern coast of Gangwon-do seeing rain until the morning of the 21st.

As of 9 a.m. on the same day, heavy rain advisories were in effect for the mountainous areas and eastern coast of Gangwon-do, Gongju and Cheongyang in Chungcheongnam-do, and Sangju, Yeongju, Yeongdeok, and Uljin flatlands in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Expected rainfall amounts included: 30–80 mm in the capital region, 50–120 mm (up to over 200 mm in northern mountainous areas) in the mountainous areas and eastern coast of Gangwon-do, 30–80 mm in inland Gangwon-do, 20–60 mm in the Chungcheong region, 20–60 mm in Jeollabuk-do, 5–40 mm in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, 30–80 mm in Daegu, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo, 20–60 mm (up to over 80 mm near Jirisan) in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do, and 5–40 mm (up to over 80 mm in mid-mountainous and mountainous areas) in Jeju Island.

The Korea Forest Service issued a “caution” stage landslide crisis alert for Gangwon-do, urging people to avoid outdoor activities near forests and to evacuate to areas outside forests immediately if they were in mountainous regions.