Rocks Collapse After Lightning Strike; Power Outages Hit Seoul Metropolitan Area

[Anchor]

The Seoul metropolitan area, which saw heavy rainfall of up to 50mm per hour, has been hit by a series of rockfalls, collapses, and power outages. While there were no casualties, thorough preparations are necessary as more rain is expected starting today, July 16.

Bae Seong-jae reports.

[Reporter]

A large rock lies on top of a vehicle, and the surrounding area is in chaos, looking as if it were hit by a bomb.

Around 6:00 a.m. yesterday, a report was filed stating that a rock had rolled down from the mountain behind an apartment complex in Hongje-dong, Seoul, following a lightning strike.

[Apartment Resident: There was a sudden rumbling sound like thunder. Since car alarms were going off, I wondered if there had been a traffic accident.]

This is the scene of the accident.

Traces of rocks that tumbled down from the mountain above remain visible.

Some rocks are still precariously perched on the retaining wall.

Two vehicles were damaged, but fortunately, there were no casualties. The local government plans to conduct a safety inspection to assess the risk of further collapses.

In Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, two parked vehicles were also damaged when the exterior wall of a three-story multi-unit house collapsed due to strong wind and rain.

Concerned about further collapses, the local government guided about 40 residents to temporary shelters.

With the ground weakened by heavy rainfall, including the collapse of a retaining wall at a housing complex in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, incidents of collapses and rockfalls have been reported across the metropolitan area.

Power outages also occurred in various places as trees, unable to withstand the strong wind and rain, fell onto utility poles and power lines.

Around 11:00 p.m. on July 14, a tree fell onto high-voltage lines in Bongcheon-dong, Seoul, causing a power outage for about 970 households. Around the same time, power was cut off for about 150 households in an apartment complex in Sinjeong-dong, Seoul, and 950 households in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, before being restored overnight.

[Yoon Kyung-mi / Sinjeong-dong, Seoul: My baby was thirsty, but the water purifier suddenly stopped working, and the air conditioner and everything else turned off. We had to use a portable fan.]

Although all heavy rain warnings have been lifted, more proactive preparations seem necessary for nocturnal monsoon rains that tend to pour down during particularly vulnerable hours.

(Video Editing: Lee Sang-min | VJ: Kim Hyung-jin, Noh Jae-min | Footage courtesy of Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.