Extreme rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour [1] has struck Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, triggering landslides and flooding in residential areas.
The intensity of the storm has overwhelmed local infrastructure, leading to the flooding of first-floor apartments and significant geological instability. Local authorities remain on alert as meteorological forecasts indicate that this period of extreme precipitation is likely to persist.
According to the Korean Natural Disaster Association, the heaviest rainfall occurred between midnight and 2 a.m. [3]. During this two-hour window, the region experienced its most acute deluge, which caused immediate damage to property and terrain.
Kim Seung-bae, head of the Korean Natural Disaster Association, said that while the peak has passed, the weather pattern remains dangerous. He said that rainfall of 30 to 50 mm per hour [2] has continued to fall on the region, suggesting that the atmospheric conditions driving the storm have not yet broken.
Emergency responders have reported multiple landslides across the Geoje region. The combination of saturated soil and high-intensity rain has created a high-risk environment for residents in hilly areas, increasing the likelihood of further slope failures.
Local officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid low-lying areas or steep slopes. The meteorological agency continues to monitor the system, which is classified as extreme rainfall, as it moves across the South Gyeongsang Province.
“Extreme rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour has struck Geoje.”
The occurrence of 'extreme rainfall'—defined by intensities exceeding 100mm per hour—highlights the increasing vulnerability of South Korea's coastal infrastructure to volatile weather patterns. The persistence of 30-50mm hourly rain following the peak suggests a stalled weather system, which significantly raises the risk of secondary disasters like mudslides due to soil saturation.
