Extreme rainfall caused widespread flooding and landslides in Geoje city, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, between the night of May 16 and the early morning of May 17 [1, 2].
The event demonstrates the increasing volatility of regional weather patterns, as the intensity of the rainfall overwhelmed urban drainage systems and triggered geological failures in residential zones.
Local authorities classified the event as a "disaster-type heavy rain" [1, 2]. The intensity of the storm reached over 100 mm of rain per hour [1]. This volume of precipitation led to severe inundation in the Jangpyeong-dong, and Ilun-myeon areas [1, 2].
In Ilun-myeon, a landslide struck an apartment complex, resulting in casualties [1]. The disaster extended to critical infrastructure, where a transport terminal and several major roads were submerged under floodwaters [1]. These conditions caused significant disruptions to public transport services across the city [1].
Emergency alerts were issued to residents as the storm intensified [1]. The scale of the impact was highlighted by the volume of citizen reports; YTN received more than 100 reports regarding the flooding [1].
Reporter Kim Tae-won said, "Extreme heavy rain of more than 100mm per hour poured down" [1]. Kim said that landslides hit apartments and caused casualties, while terminals and major roads were flooded, hindering public transportation [1].
“Extreme rainfall caused widespread flooding and landslides in Geoje city.”
The classification of this event as 'disaster-type heavy rain' suggests that the precipitation levels exceeded the design capacity of local infrastructure. The simultaneous failure of slope stability near residential apartments and the flooding of primary transit hubs indicate a systemic vulnerability to high-intensity, short-duration rainfall events in the Gyeongsangnam-do region.
