Heavy rain warnings were issued for Seoul, northern Gyeonggi, and northern Gangwon. In Seoul, an emergency heavy rain disaster text alert was sent for the first time this year.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration and others on the 18th, as of 6 a.m., all of Seoul and Incheon were upgraded from heavy rain advisories to heavy rain warnings. Heavy rain advisories were also issued for Gangwon Province, South Chungcheong Province, Daejeon, and Sejong.
A heavy rain warning is a stage in which the risk of damage such as flooding, river overflow, and landslides increases significantly due to expected heavy rainfall; a heavy rain warning is issued when the cumulative rainfall is expected to be 90 mm or more in 3 hours, or 180 mm or more in 12 hours.
At present, strong rain clouds are still passing over Seoul and northern Gyeonggi. Between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., an emergency heavy rain disaster text alert was sent in Seoul for the first time this year.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the flood and typhoon crisis alert to "alert" at 4:30 a.m. that day and activated level 2 emergency operations at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Yoon Ho-jung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS)), said, "The government will proactively implement every possible measure, even to an excessive degree, to minimize casualties."
Even if the intensity of the rain weakens somewhat, it is expected to continue, shifting by region, through tomorrow. In Gangwon, Chungcheong, North Jeolla, and North Gyeongsang, heavy rain of up to 50 mm per hour is expected again between tonight and early tomorrow morning.
The Korea Meteorological Administration noted, "Avoid approaching rivers and low-lying areas, and evacuate immediately to a safe place when a disaster text alert is sent."