South Korea’s central and western regions are grappling with the aftermath of extreme weather, as relentless heavy rains wreak havoc across Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong provinces. The deluge, which began early Wednesday and persisted into Thursday, has triggered deadly landslides, submerged roads and buildings, and forced over a thousand residents to flee their homes.
At least four lives have been lost due to weather-related incidents, including a fatal retaining wall collapse in Osan, Gyeonggi Province. The 10-meter structure gave way on Thursday, crushing a vehicle and killing its driver, a man in his 40s. Meanwhile, in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, a 60-year-old man drowned after his car was swept away in the early hours. Hours later, the body of an elderly man in his 80s was discovered nearby, believed to have suffered the same fate.
Seosan experienced the heaviest rainfall, recording a peak precipitation rate of 114.9 millimeters per hour. Accumulated rainfall reached 419.5 mm in Seosan, 411 mm in Hongseong, 376.5 mm in Dangjin, and 349.5 mm in Asan—all within a span of just two days. The coastal county of Taean was also inundated with over 300 mm of rain, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
In Cheongyang County, a landslide buried two residents Thursday morning. Emergency responders located and transported both individuals to a nearby hospital by nightfall. In Dangjin, another elderly man was found dead in a flooded basement.
As of Thursday morning, at least 1,070 people had been evacuated due to rising floodwaters and landslide threats. Dozens of schools were forced to shut down in affected areas such as Yesan and Hongseong. Nearly 80 underpasses, riverside roads, and low-lying bridges were closed to prevent further casualties.
The Korea Meteorological Administration issued heavy rain warnings for Sejong, the Chungcheong provinces, and parts of Gyeonggi Province early Thursday. Warnings are triggered when 90 mm or more of rain is expected within three hours or 180 mm over 12 hours. Heavy rain advisories were also issued for Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, and regions in Gangwon Province.
In Gwangju, rainfall intensified so rapidly that over 87 roads and 38 buildings were found underwater. A house was reportedly destroyed in a landslide in Cheongdo County, North Gyeongsang Province. Details regarding casualties in that incident remain unconfirmed.
Transportation infrastructure suffered significant disruption. Korea Railroad Corp. announced partial suspension of trains operating between Seoul and key cities including Cheonan, Hongseong, and Cheongju. Services along the Honam Line, which connects Daejeon to Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, were halted. Maritime routes were also impacted, with 39 passenger ships grounded and over 374 hiking trails across 15 national parks closed due to safety concerns.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Interior Ministry activated the third stage of its three-tier emergency response system and raised the rain alert level to “severe,” the highest in its four-level scale. Acting Interior Minister Kim Min-jae emphasized the seriousness of the situation in a government meeting, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of riverbanks, lowlands, and landslide-prone areas.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has instructed all relevant agencies to intensify monitoring and execute emergency evacuations where risks are imminent. Officials continue to assess potential hazards and coordinate relief efforts as more rain looms.
Meteorologists predict that up to 300 mm of additional rainfall could hit parts of the Chungcheong region and southern provinces through Saturday, worsening already saturated grounds and raising the risk of further disasters. With the monsoon season showing no signs of easing, South Korea’s emergency services remain on high alert.
