Imjin River Pilseung Bridge Water Level Exceeds 2 Meters... Evacuation Advisory Issued for Riverside Areas

▲ Janggun Bridge within the Civilian Control Zone in the upper reaches of the Imjin River

Caution is advised as the water level of the Imjin River has risen, with the water level at Pilseung Bridge, located at the northernmost point of the Southern Limit Line, exceeding 2 meters as of today (July 10), which is the threshold for human evacuation during the non-flood season.

According to the Han River Flood Control Office, the water level at Pilseung Bridge was recorded at 2.24 meters as of 9:00 a.m. today.

The water level reached 1 meter, the threshold for evacuating riverside visitors, at 6:10 a.m., and subsequently surpassed 2 meters, the threshold for human evacuation during the non-flood season, at 8:00 a.m.

The inflow into the Gunnam Flood Control Dam, located downstream from Pilseung Bridge, also surged to 1,297.6 tons per second as of 9:00 a.m., a sharp increase from the usual level of around 100 tons.

However, the water level at the dam remains at 27.8 meters, providing a sufficient margin below the planned flood level of 40 meters.

Gyeonggi Province and Yeoncheon County have issued disaster safety text messages, urging "riverside visitors, campers, fishermen, and residents to evacuate to safe locations."

It has not been confirmed whether North Korea has released water from the Hwanggang Dam.

The Imjin River, a shared waterway between the two Koreas, has approximately 60 percent of its basin in North Korea, with the remainder in South Korea.

Water flowing down from North Korea enters South Korea via Pilseung Bridge, passes through the Gunnam Flood Control Dam in Yeoncheon, and flows downstream toward Paju.

The government manages the Imjin River basin in four stages based on the water level at Pilseung Bridge.

When the water level at Pilseung Bridge exceeds 1 meter, an evacuation order for riverside visitors is issued; 2 meters triggers the human evacuation threshold for the non-flood season; 7.5 meters initiates the "interest" stage for border area crisis response; and 12 meters triggers the "caution" stage for border area crisis response.

Meanwhile, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heavy rain advisory for the northwestern parts of Yeoncheon and Paju at 3:10 a.m. today, but lifted it three hours and 20 minutes later.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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