Four Landslides Reported in South Korea Over Holiday Weekend; No Casualties

South Korea experienced four landslides during the recent holiday weekend, although no injuries or fatalities were reported.

The incidents occurred amid significant rainfall, prompting authorities to issue landslide warnings. Some regions have recorded over 200mm of cumulative precipitation, raising concerns about ground stability.

The Korea Forest Service has placed landslide risk alerts at the 'Caution to Watch' level nationwide. The cumulative rainfall has saturated the ground, increasing the potential for further slope failures. Even after the rain ceases, the risk is expected to continue as the soil remains waterlogged.

Landslides in Korea typically occur when the soil layer, about 1-2 meters deep above bedrock, becomes saturated with heavy rain. This increases its weight and reduces friction, causing it to slide downhill. The risk escalates with rainfall exceeding 30mm per hour, 100mm per day, or 200mm cumulatively. The saturation of the ground means that even lighter rainfall could trigger landslides, and water pooling in valleys and low-lying areas could exacerbate soil erosion.