Locations Affected: South Korea
Parts of South Korea are facing widespread destruction caused by torrential rainfall that began on 16 July. The heavy rainfall has triggered floods and landslides in regions such as central Chungcheong and southeastern South Gyeongsang Province, destroying thousands of roads and buildings, damaging farmlands and livestock, and forcing the evacuation of around 10,000 people. As of 21 July, 19 fatalities and eight missing persons have been reported, with concerns that the death toll may rise. Southern parts of the country have been the worst affected, with 10 deaths and four missing in Sancheong.
Reason for the Torrential Rain
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the heavy rainfall was caused by the intense and persistent expansion of the North Pacific high-pressure system. Cold air from the north clashed with this dominant high-pressure system, while strong winds along its edge drew in tropical moisture, creating ideal conditions for torrential rain. Rising sea levels and temperatures due to global warming are also believed to contribute to the strengthening of this system.
Damage to Infrastructure and Emergency Operations
- A landslide in northern Gapyeong County caused two fatalities and engulfed several properties.
- Sacheong County in South Gyeongsang Province recorded the highest accumulated precipitation of nearly 800 millimetres as of 20 July, followed by Hapcheon-gun (699 mm), Hadong-gun (621.5 mm), Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province (617.5 mm), and Seosan in South Chungcheong Province (578.3 mm).
- Over 41,000 households temporarily lost power due to the rain. As of 20 July, around 7,000 wireless cell towers experienced network disruptions due to the outages. However, approximately 90 percent of wireless services and 98% of landline services have since been restored.
- A total of 9,887 households, comprising 14,166 residents from 15 cities and provincial areas, were temporarily evacuated by 2100 hours on 20 July.
- The rain has damaged 1,999 public infrastructures and 2,238 private facilities nationwide.
- On 20 July, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered the worst-hit areas to be declared special disaster zones, allowing the release of emergency funds. Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung announced that the ministry would provide support to help local governments utilize available resources for recovery.
Weather Forecast and Outlook on the Situation
The heavy rainfall and resulting flooding have raised growing concerns over the increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to the climate crisis. While heavy rainfall alerts were lifted across the country on 21 July, the KMA has forecasted heatwave conditions expected to persist until 29 July. Heat advisories have been issued for South Jeolla, Gangwon, and Jeju Island. Emergency rescue operations continue in the flood-affected regions, with the government launching a multi-agency recovery effort. Around 2,500 military personnel have been deployed to assist with cleanup and repairs. Travel disruptions are likely to persist due to waterlogging and debris, and organizations are advised to remain situationally aware and prepare appropriate contingency plans.
