South Korea Raises Landslide Warning to Alert Level Amid Extreme Rain

South Korean authorities raised the landslide crisis alert for the Seoul metropolitan area from the caution level to the alert level ^[2].

The upgrade comes as extreme rainfall saturates the soil, significantly increasing the risk of slope failure and erosion across densely populated regions. Because many residential areas in the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon provinces are situated near mountainous terrain, these alerts are critical for preventing casualties during sudden landslides.

Lee Chang-woo, a landslide research division chief at the National Institute of Forest Science, said that heavy rains hit the Gyeongsangbuk-do region specifically during the day and night of July 17. He said that some areas in that province recorded precipitation as high as 70 mm per hour ^[1].

Following the activity in the south, high-intensity rain moved into the Seoul metropolitan area, including Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, during the early hours of Saturday, July 18 ^[1]. This pattern of localized, extreme precipitation creates a high risk of soil saturation, where the ground can no longer absorb water, leading to sudden collapses.

An anchor for YTN News said that the risk of landslides is a primary concern following the extreme rainfall. The shift to the alert level indicates a higher probability of imminent danger, requiring residents in high-risk zones to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders if issued.

Experts emphasize that the danger often peaks after the heaviest rain has passed, as the accumulated water deepens within the soil layers. This delayed effect can trigger landslides even when current rainfall seems manageable, making the transition from caution to alert a necessary preemptive measure for public safety ^[1].