'Scorching Honam Plain'... Seomjin River Dam Water Level Plummets Below 20%

Dams and reservoirs in North Jeolla Province are drying up due to the severe heat wave that followed the dry monsoon season, raising concerns about disruptions to farming.

According to the Yeongsan River Flood Control Office today (August 10), the water level of the Seomjin River Dam, a multi-purpose dam that serves as the lifeline of the Honam Plain, currently stands at 19.5%.

The water level was 23.3% a week ago, but with no rain in sight, the water level has continued to drop, falling below 20%.

The drought stage for the Seomjin River Dam has entered the "Alert" stage among the four stages of Attention, Caution, Alert, and Severe.

This phenomenon can also be confirmed through satellite images.

According to data analyzing satellite imagery by satellite startup TelePIX, the water surface area of Lake Okjeong in Imsil, created by the Seomjin River Dam, was 13.25 square kilometers on August 1 of last year, but dropped by 34% to 8.74 square kilometers as of August 2 this year.

Some sections, such as around Bungeo Island in Lake Okjeong, which once overflowed with enough water to float boats, have exposed cracked lakebeds since late last month.

North Jeolla Province recorded 266.7 millimeters of precipitation from June to July this year, which is only 59.8% of the average year (446.9 millimeters), showing a clear decline in reservoir water levels.

The total water storage of 401 reservoirs in North Jeolla Province stands at 255 million tons as of today, falling below 60% of the average year.

The drought hitting the southern region amid the heat wave is highly likely to worsen going forward.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's mid-term forecast, there are no forecasts for rain in North Jeolla Province for mid-August (August 14 – 20) except for occasional showers.

An official from North Jeolla Province said, "Until it rains, we will do our best to prevent disruptions to farming by reusing drainage and deploying water pumps," while urging everyone to participate in water conservation.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.