South Korea: Authorities close roads and issue flood alerts due to heavy rains and rising river levels in Seoul August 6 /update 2

Event

Authorities partly closed some major transport routes across Seoul on Thursday, August 6, and issued flood alerts for areas near a major bridge on the Han River as heavy rainfall raised the level of the river. On Wednesday, August 5, authorities had been forced to open the floodgates of the Soyang River Dam and Paldan Dam, releasing the water into the Han River. With further heavy rainfall, the river has continued to swell and authorities have closed sections of the Dongbu Urban Expressway, Seoul Inner Loop, Olympic-daero, and Gangbyeon Northern Highway to traffic. Access has also been cut to riverside roads in Yeouido and other areas and Jamsu Bridge linking the north and south of the city has been closed. At 11:00 (local time) a flood alert was issued for those in central Seoul near the Han River Bridge.

Heavy rains in recent days in South Korea's central and metropolitan region have caused 16 fatalities and eleven people remain missing. Over 5000 houses have been damaged and thousands of hectares of agricultural land has been destroyed. Further heavy rainfall is forecast throughout Thursday and Friday, August 7, and associated disruptions to transport and business are expected in the near term.

Advice

Those in Seoul and across South Korea are advised to monitor local weather reports in the near term, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities, anticipate power and transportation disruptions, and avoid wading or driving through floodwaters.