The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said it activated level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 6 a.m. on the 17th as heavy rain fell in Geoje and Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang.
As of 6 a.m. that day, heavy rain warnings were issued for eight areas, including Busan, Jeju, and Tongyeong, Geoje, Goseong, Sacheon, and Namhae in South Gyeongsang. Heavy rain advisories were issued for eight other areas, including Ulsan and Sancheong, Jinju, Yangsan, Gimhae, Miryang, Changwon, and Hadong in South Gyeongsang.
In particular, Geoje, where 782.5 mm of rain fell from on the 15th to 6 a.m. that day, is seeing a string of flood damage. In Hoejin village and elsewhere, about 20 people are isolated due to inundation and other causes and rescue operations are underway, and about 100 residents of Yesol village in Aju-dong are making an emergency evacuation due to landslide risk.
Yoon Ho-jung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister, Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS)), said, "The government will make every effort with related agencies to protect people's lives until the heavy rain stops and recovery from the damage is completed," and added, "Check risk alerts frequently, refrain from accessing dangerous areas such as landslide-prone zones, valley and riverbanks, and coastlines, and actively follow controls by relevant agencies."
Meanwhile, as of 6 a.m. that day, a total of 603 reports of rain damage, including flooded dwellings and roads, had been received. By region, South Gyeongsang had the most with 555, followed by Busan (24), Gwangju in South Jeolla (13), Ulsan (7), and Jeju (4).