Northern Gyeongbuk Residents Evacuate as Heavy Rains Trigger Landslide Warning

Record-breaking rainfall in northern Gyeongbuk province has forced more than 300 residents to evacuate their homes overnight as a safety precaution.

As of early morning on the 19th, Gyeongbuk Province reported that 366 individuals from 292 households in Andong, Uiseong, Yeongju, and Yecheon had moved to local community centers and other safe locations. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

The region experienced torrential downpours from the 17th to the early morning of the 19th. Andong received 189mm of rain, while Munkyung's Dongro-myeon recorded 178mm, and Uiseong's Bian-myeon saw 157.5mm. Andong's Namseon-myeon experienced a particularly intense downpour of 65.5mm per hour on the afternoon of the 18th.

Uiseong County issued an evacuation order for Gye-ri 1 and 2 in Dancheon-myeon after a section of the local road connecting to Gye-ri was washed away, rendering it impassable for vehicles. A total of 155 people, including residents and campers, evacuated to community facilities. Additionally, 45 households of residents displaced by last year's wildfires, who were living in temporary housing, also evacuated, with 12 of their 45 temporary units sustaining flood damage.

In Andong, evacuations occurred in Iljik-myeon, Namseon-myeon, and Imha-myeon. Temporary housing for wildfire victims in Gwi-ri, Iljik-myeon, also experienced flooding. In Namhu-myeon, Andong, two people were rescued from a campervan stranded by rising river waters.

In response to the saturated ground and the forecast of additional rainfall, the Korea Forest Service elevated the landslide warning level for Gyeongbuk from 'Advisory' to 'Watch' at 8 a.m. on the 19th. The region, particularly Daegu and Gyeongbuk, is expected to receive another 30 to 100mm of rain starting in the afternoon, increasing the risk of landslides in already weakened areas.

Fire authorities reported conducting 75 emergency operations overnight, including 19 rescues and 56 safety measures for flooded homes and road obstructions.