A record-breaking downpour in Busan caused a manhole cover to open, resulting in an accident where a citizen fell in. Fortunately, there were no major casualties thanks to the quick response of nearby merchants.
According to a report by KNN on the 16th, at around 2:30 a.m. on the 14th, a woman in her 30s, identified as A, fell into an open manhole on a street in Yeonje District, Busan. It is estimated that up to 145.5 mm of torrential rain fell in Busan from midnight until 9:30 a.m., causing the water to back up and open the manhole cover.
A reportedly fell while walking with an umbrella during the downpour, not noticing the open manhole and falling in. Two nearby merchants who witnessed the situation immediately grabbed a stick and went down into the 2-meter deep manhole to rescue A.
One merchant who participated in the rescue explained the tense situation to KNN, saying, "There was a ladder, but the water had risen to that level, making it just possible to breathe, and A was completely exhausted." The fire authorities reported that A returned home safely without serious injuries.
Due to the downpour that day, the Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters received 36 reports of flood damage by 1 p.m., and the police received 74 reports via 112.