Torrential Rains Pound South with Over 100mm per Hour; Evacuation Order Issued in Gochang

[Anchor]

Heavy downpours have been lashing areas centered around North Jeolla and South Chungcheong provinces since last night (August 30). Flood damage has been reported consecutively, centered around Gwangju and South Jeolla Province where torrential rains exceeding 100mm per hour poured down, and an evacuation order was temporarily issued for residents in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province.

Our first report is from reporter Kim Gyu-ri.

[Reporter]

The front yard of a house is submerged under pouring rainwater, turning it into something resembling a river, as rescue workers cling to ropes and push through the fierce current.

At around 8:10 AM today, two residents trapped by overflowing water in front of their home were rescued in Baeksu-eup, Yeonggwang-gun, Gwangju and South Jeolla Province.

In Yeonggwang, Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, where localized torrential rains of 107.5mm per hour poured down as of 5:00 AM today, reports of flooded roads and homes came in continuously.

An evacuation order was temporarily issued in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province, where heavy rains exceeding 225mm have battered the area over the past two days.

Through an emergency alert text message at around 9:30 AM today, Gochang-gun stated that flooding was expected around streams such as Jujincheon and Samincheon in Asan-myeon, Gochang, and ordered nearby residents to evacuate to a safe location.

Earlier, the Yeongsan River Flood Control Office also issued a flood warning for the Bujeong Bridge area of Jujincheon starting at 9:10 AM, urging preparations against potential damage.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that as of 6:00 AM today, 432 cases of damage, including flooded roads and homes, have been reported.

The headquarters emphasized, "While maintaining Level 1 emergency duty, we will thoroughly manage the situation through measures such as inspecting and controlling hazardous areas."

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Accidents on rainy roads also continued.

At around 11:10 AM today, near the Gubong Tunnel heading toward Seodaejeon on the Daejeon Southern Circular Expressway, a 4.5-ton truck slipped on the wet road and overturned onto its right side.

As a following passenger car slowed down after witnessing the accident, a 24-ton truck rear-ended the passenger car, leading to a secondary collision.

A man in his 70s, who was driving the passenger car, complained of shoulder pain and was transported to the hospital.

(Video Editing: Shin Se-eun, Photo courtesy of viewer Song Young-hoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.