Heavy monsoon rains damage 256 facilities and force 662 evacuations across South Korea

Heavy monsoon rains struck central and other parts of South Korea on Thursday, damaging 256 facilities and forcing 662 people to evacuate, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said. The rains hit the provinces of South and North Chungcheong hardest.

m. Thursday, while Daejeon recorded 239.5 mm over the same period.

Damage and evacuations Authorities reported damage to 225 public facilities and 31 private properties, including flooded homes and roads. Of the 662 evacuees, 621 took shelter at town halls and senior centers. A man in his 70s was reported missing after being swept away in a stream in Yeongju, prompting rescue authorities to conduct search operations.

Forecast and response Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung called for stronger safety measures at an interagency meeting, noting that heavy downpours are expected to continue Friday. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast rainfall of more than 50 mm per hour in northern Gyeonggi Province and central and northern Gangwon Province early Friday morning, with other parts of the greater Seoul area expected to receive 20 to 30 mm per hour from late Thursday night onward.