17일까지 남부권·제주 폭우…일부 시간당 70㎜ 넘는 극한호우

From the 15th, 광복절 holiday festivities brought heavy rainfall to southern regions, including Jeju Island, with some areas receiving over 250mm of rain. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued alerts for potential extreme rainfall, raising the warning level from 'attention' to 'caution' as of 7am on the 16th.

By 8:30am on the 17th, the Forest Service raised the landslide warning level in the same regions from 'attention' to 'caution' based on forecasted conditions. The heavy rain was expected to continue throughout the day, with some locations potentially seeing more than 70mm of rain per hour.

In the city of Mokpo alone, over 66mm of rain fell in a single hour, prompting emergency crews to rush to a storehouse where water had inundated the ground floor and rescue operations saved two lives. Ground floor basements in the neighborhood also suffered flooding, requiring draining efforts.

Local authorities reported 134 related incidents between the 15th and 16th, including water rushing into one home in Mokpo, prompting quick evacuations by emergency services. No casualties were reported.

The rainfall signals a welcome reprieve in drought-stricken areas of Kyungnam Province, which saw water levels drop from 100 to over 250mm. However, the 15th also saw light rain in parts of Jeju, with accumulations ranging from 30 to 80mm, while mountainous areas could see up to 100mm more by the 17th.

The extreme rainfall poses additional risks for forested regions, with the Forest Service raising the landslide warning level to 'caution'. Authorities advised residents in affected areas to avoid outdoor activities and heed evacuation instructions, emphasizing the importance of staying informed through emergency notifications and local broadcasts.