South Korean officials and disaster experts are urging citizens to avoid underground spaces and electrical hazards during the current monsoon season [1].
The warnings come as the combination of heavy rain and strong winds creates a high risk of rapid urban flooding and lethal electrocution [1, 2].
YTN reporter Kim Tae-won said that underground spaces are the first areas people should avoid when heavy rain begins to fall [1]. This includes under-passes and underground parking garages, where water can accumulate quickly and trap residents or motorists [1, 2].
Experts said that if water begins to pool in an under-pass, drivers should abandon their vehicles immediately and move to higher ground [1, 2]. The priority in these scenarios is life safety over the preservation of property.
Beyond flooding, the risk of electrical accidents increases during extreme weather. Ban Gi-sung, a YTN disaster advisory member and representative of K-Climate, said that invisible dangers lurk during city flooding [1]. He said that the risk of electrocution from short circuits near traffic lights, street lamps, or signage becomes very high [1].
"Underground space entry should be avoided," Ban said. He said that people must be especially careful to stay away from such electrical equipment to prevent accidents [1].
The guidance is part of a broader effort to reduce casualties during the annual monsoon period, where the synergy of wind and rain can double the danger to the public [1].
“"The first place to avoid when rain starts to pour is 'underground space'."”
These warnings highlight the specific vulnerabilities of urban infrastructure during the Korean monsoon. By emphasizing the danger of 'invisible' risks like electrical leakage and the speed of underground flooding, authorities are attempting to shift public behavior away from relying on vehicles or subterranean shelters, which can quickly become death traps during extreme weather events.
