Heaviest Rainfall in 200 Years Sweeps across Korea

From July 16^th to 20^th, the heaviest downpour in 200 years swept through South Korea. Most cities and counties were hit with at least 300mm to 500mm of rain, while Hadong County and Hapcheon County recorded a heavier rainfall of 621.5mm and 699mm, respectively. The heaviest rain recorded was over 700mm in South Gyeongsang Province. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province received the largest downpour of 793.5mm, which resulted in several landslides. Due to the heavy rain, multiple railways such as the Gyeongbu Line, Honam Line, and a part of the Janghang Line were closed off, alongside four airports and several commercial shipping routes. The rain eventually eased up on July 19^th, but casualties were reported all over the country. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), as of July 20^th, the rainfall had left 17 dead, 11 missing, and over 4,000 cases of damage to buildings and facilities. Sancheong County, which experienced 100mm of rain per hour, had the highest number of casualties — 10 out of the 17 reported deaths — and damage to facilities due to landslides. The MOIS also reported an estimate of 1,999 cases of public infrastructure damage and 2,238 cases of private property damage. In response, the government has launched an inter-agency recovery support team. The government, through recovery measures, provided victims with comprehensive support centers and advised officials to continue raising public awareness regarding the weather.