100mm Per Hour Rainfall Bomb: Jeollanam-do Gwangju Sees Numerous Cases of Stranding and Flooding

Sixteen People Rescued in Wolchulsan and Hwasun
Korea Meteorological Administration: "Up to 80 mm of Rainfall Expected by Tomorrow"

Record-breaking torrential rain of about 100 mm per hour struck the Jeollanam-do Gwangju region, resulting in hikers and residents being stranded and multiple roads flooded, causing numerous incidents and damages.

On the afternoon of the 30th, firefighters in Hancheon-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, are connecting lines across the flooded road to rescue stranded citizens. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the Jeollanam-do Gwangju Integrated Fire & Disaster Headquarters, as of 7 p.m. on the 30th, a total of 81 reports of heavy rain damage had been received: 32 in Gwangju and 49 in South Jeolla Province.

Due to the sudden downpour, the water level in valleys rapidly rose, leading to a series of stranding incidents. At around 4:43 p.m. on the same day, five hikers became stranded when the water surged in a valley on Wolchulsan Mountain in Yeongam-eup, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, but all were rescued by the dispatched 119 rescue team.

Earlier, at about 4:42 p.m. in Hancheon-myeon, Hwasun-gun, a flooded road caused by overflowing valleys stranded eleven people, including local residents, but all were rescued safely. It is noteworthy that heavy rain fell in Hwasun so intensely that it only took 40 minutes after the heavy rain advisory was issued at 4 p.m. for it to be upgraded to a heavy rain warning.

Flooding incidents were also reported in urban areas. In Gwangju, roads were submerged in Jangdeok-dong and Usan-dong of Gwangsan-gu, as well as Yangsan-dong in Buk-gu, and there were reports of manhole backflow in Yangsan-dong in Buk-gu, Ssangchon-dong in Seo-gu, and Gyerim-dong in Dong-gu.

In Jeollanam-do, at 4:08 p.m., a roadside tree fell in Songhyeon-ri, Naju, while at 5:29 p.m., a landslide occurred near Pulchi Tunnel in Seongjeon-myeon, Gangjin-gun, prompting emergency recovery efforts. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

As of 6 p.m. that day, the accumulated rainfall at major observation points reached 204.0 mm on Nakwol-do in Yeonggwang, 134.5 mm in Iyang, Hwasun, 125.0 mm in Dado, Naju, 89.5 mm in Hwasun, 89.4 mm on Anmado in Yeonggwang, and 84.0 mm on Mudeungsan Mountain in Dong-gu, Gwangju.

Extreme rainfall rates were recorded, with 100.5 mm per hour on Nakwol-do in Yeonggwang and 91.5 mm per hour in Iyang, Hwasun. As the torrential rain intensified, an 'emergency disaster alert message for torrential rain' was sent out to Yeonggwang at 1:44 p.m.

Currently, heavy rain warnings are in effect for Hwasun, Boseong, Gwangyang, and Suncheon, while heavy rain advisories have been issued for eastern and western Gwangju, Jangseong, Yeongam, Yeonggwang, Gokseong, and Goheung.

The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that an additional 30 to 80 mm of rainfall (with over 50 mm in some areas) could fall in Gwangju and South Jeolla through the afternoon of the 31st.

An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration urged, "As there may be areas of very heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds, thunder, and lightning, please pay special attention to river flooding, facility maintenance, and safety accidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.