One Dead, Two Injured in Geoje Landslide Amid 100mm/hr 'Water Bomb' Rainfall

A landslide in Geoje, South Korea, claimed one life and injured two residents early on the 17th. The incident occurred around 4:42 a.m. when a hillside collapsed near an apartment building in Okpo-dong, burying part of the first floor. In Tongyeong, a separate landslide in Gonni-ri, Sanyang-eup, injured one resident shortly after.

These events are part of a broader pattern of severe weather impacting the southern coast since the 15th. Geoje has received a staggering 782.5 mm of rain, while Tongyeong recorded 628.9 mm. This deluge has caused rivers like Gojeongcheon and Suwolcheon to overflow, flooding surrounding roads and homes. Consequently, 115 residents from 84 households in Geoje and Sacheon were evacuated early on the 17th. Several school facilities in Geoje and Tongyeong also sustained water damage, though no injuries were reported due to the holiday period.

As of 6 a.m. on the 17th, access to 204 locations, including nine roads and two riverside parking lots, remains restricted. The southern coastal areas are experiencing intense rainfall, with rates of 50 to 100 mm per hour, while other parts of Gyeongnam are seeing 5 to 20 mm per hour. Heavy rain warnings are in effect for five cities and counties along the southern coast, including Geoje and Tongyeong, with flood advisories issued for seven other areas. Strong wind advisories are also active for Tongyeong, Geoje, and Namhae.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts an additional 80 to 150 mm of rain for the southern coast by the evening of the 17th, with 50 to 100 mm expected in the eastern inland areas of Gyeongnam and 20 to 60 mm in the central and western inland regions. Following this, the weather is expected to clear up, with cloudy conditions persisting.