Wind-driven rain on the 18th swept the Seoul area and elsewhere, flooding roads and damaging structures, while 40 flights were cancelled at Incheon International Airport.
According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, wind-driven rain on the 18th caused road flooding and falling trees and signs, mainly around the Seoul metropolitan area. The Korea Meteorological Administration recorded rainfall of around 50mm an hour in some places between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., with peak gusts of about 20 meters per second.
광고 문의 · 300×250At about 2:48 p.m., the Wanjeong intersection area in Incheon's Majeon-dong was submerged, and three people trapped in a car were rescued. Around the same time in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, a driver stranded by floodwater got out with help from firefighters. Roads were also inundated in Goyang's Todang-dong and Haengsin-dong, Paju's Unjeong-dong and the Yedanpo entrance in Incheon.
Wind damage was also heavy. A convenience store sign was torn off near Incheon's Sinpo International Market, and a church steeple snapped and fell onto a road in Cheongna-dong, Seo District. A bus shelter toppled in Namyangju's Dasan-dong, and fallen or broken trees briefly closed some roads in Goyang's Madu-dong, Seosan's Yecheon-dong in South Chungcheong and the forest tunnel on Jeju's 5.16 Road. North Jeolla Province received six wind-damage reports, including five fallen trees and one toppled tent, and a large discount store in Giheung District, Yongin, had water leaking from its ceiling.
Air travel was hit too. Forty flights were cancelled at Incheon International Airport, 36 of them in advance on the basis of weather forecasts and four on the day. Thirty-four flights were delayed and nine returned to their departure points.
Cumulative rainfall as of 9 p.m. was highest at Cheongpyeong in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, at 66.5mm, followed by Changhyeon in Namyangju at 62mm, Bokheung in Sunchang, North Jeolla, at 60mm, Yangchon in Gimpo at 59mm and Gyeongseo-dong in Incheon at 55.5mm. With heavy rain concentrated in a short time, low-lying areas and spots near underpasses where drainage could not keep up appear to have suffered most.
The Kyunghyang Shinmun report, however, did not include a forecast for the coming days, so that could not be confirmed. Since further falling objects and poor road conditions remain a concern after strong winds and downpours, travelers are advised to check the weather agency's forecast and airline operation information before heading out.
