Record-breaking rainfall caused severe flooding and landslides in Geoje and Tongyeong, South Korea, on Monday morning [1].
The scale of the deluge overwhelmed local infrastructure, resulting in casualties and extensive property damage across the South Gyeongsang Province.
Extreme rainfall began around midnight and lasted for approximately six hours until early dawn [1]. During this window, Geoje recorded 508.8 mm of rain [1]. The intensity of the storm led to flash floods that submerged various commercial buildings and shops [1].
In one critical incident, a landslide struck an apartment complex. Soil and debris covered the building, leading to casualties [1]. Local residents and authorities said the sudden volume of water turned streets into rivers, trapping people and destroying property.
Reporter Kim Tae-won said the region experienced extreme rainfall reaching 508.8 mm between midnight and 6 a.m. [1]. The sudden nature of the event left residents with little time to evacuate their homes or secure their businesses.
Emergency crews worked throughout Monday to clear debris and assist those affected by the flooding. The record-breaking totals have left officials assessing the stability of slopes in the surrounding mountainous terrain to prevent further landslides [1].
“Geoje recorded 508.8 mm of rain in approximately six hours.”
The occurrence of over 500 mm of rain within a six-hour window represents an extreme weather event that exceeds the design capacity of most urban drainage systems. This incident highlights the increasing vulnerability of South Korea's coastal provinces to concentrated 'water bomb' rainfall, where the volume of precipitation triggers immediate geological instability and flash flooding in residential areas.
