Authorities issued a heavy-rain warning for northern-central Gangwon Province on Friday after torrential rains triggered the opening of dam gates [1].
The emergency measures aim to prevent catastrophic flooding and landslides in high-risk areas. Rapidly rising water levels in the Han River basin have threatened to isolate entire communities, making controlled water release essential to stabilize the region [1, 2].
Rainfall intensified after midnight, with the heaviest downpours beginning after 2 a.m. KST [1]. By the time the heavy-rain warning became effective at 4:30 a.m. KST, the region had experienced five hours of significant precipitation [1].
Local officials focused their efforts on Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon. These specific districts are currently under a heavy-rain warning to manage the risk of submerged roads and unstable terrain [1, 2].
"Rain is concentrating particularly in the north-central Gangwon region," a YTN News anchor said. "There are concerns about flooding, landslides, and isolation" [1].
Reporter Ji-hwan said the rain became heavier after 2 a.m. KST [1]. He said that while warnings are in effect for all of Gangwon, the alerts for Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon were specifically activated at 4:30 a.m. KST [1].
To mitigate the surge of water, operators opened the gates of dams within the Han River basin. This process allows authorities to regulate the flow of water downstream and reduce the pressure on riverbanks and residential areas [1, 2].
“There are concerns about flooding, landslides, and isolation”
The decision to open dam gates indicates that natural river channels could not accommodate the volume of runoff from the northern-central highlands. By proactively releasing water, authorities are attempting to prevent a sudden breach or overflow that could lead to widespread infrastructure failure and loss of life in the Han River basin.
