Heavy Rain Hits South Korea, Houses Submerged and Residents Evacuated

JAKARTA - Monsoon heavy rains continue to hit the central region and a number of other areas in South Korea until Thursday morning. Floods flooded houses, trees fell, and residents in several points were forced to evacuate.

Yonhap quoted Thursday, July 9, reported that the Korea Meteorological Agency or KMA recorded heavy rain of up to 50 millimeters per hour in the central Chungcheong Province. The area had previously received a heavy rain warning.

Rain also poured over the surrounding areas, including North Jeolla Province, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon. The KMA said the cumulative rainfall from Wednesday to Thursday at 07.00 had exceeded 220 millimeters in Daejeon and Cheongju.

South Korea's weather agency expects up to 200 millimeters of additional rain to fall in Chungcheong and southern regions until Thursday evening. Landslide and flood warnings have also been issued in various areas.

In Boeun County, North Chungcheong Province, 82 people were evacuated to village halls and senior centers in the early hours of Thursday. The evacuation was carried out because of concerns about flooding in a reservoir.

In the same area, two residents who were trapped inside a house submerged in flood were rescued by firefighters.

Damage also occurred in Gadeok district, Cheongju. A dike broke and forced residents and staff of a nursing home to evacuate to the nearest welfare facility.

Authorities received 145 reports of damage related to heavy rain throughout South Korea since Wednesday at 18.00 to Thursday at 08.00.

In Daejeon, two people were rescued by firefighters after being trapped in a vehicle due to a flooded road.