Eight people rescued after heavy rain inundates central Korea

Overnight torrential rain flooded roads across Asan and Cheonan in South Chungcheong early Wednesday, and eight people were rescued from stranded vehicles.

The cities in central Korea received up to 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) of rain per hour before dawn.

A total of 42 rain-related reports were lodged between midnight and 6:30 a.m., including five requests for rescues from the province’s northern area, according to the Chungcheongnam-do Fire Headquarters.

Most of the reports involved flooding and fallen trees, and the majority were from Asan and Cheonan.

Starting around 4 a.m., authorities received reports of flooding at several roads, including the underpass at Yeomchi Intersection in Asan’s Yeomchi-eup and a section of national highway in Yeongin-myeon.

Police and firefighters rescued eight people, including drivers and passengers trapped in vehicles on flooded roads.

No injuries or deaths had been reported as a result of the heavy rain as of Wednesday morning.

Heavy rain warnings for Asan and Cheonan were lifted at 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., respectively.

South Chungcheong temporarily raised its emergency response to Level 2 — the second-highest level in its three-tier disaster management system — before standing down emergency operations at 8 a.m. Level 2 can be imposed when rainfall is likely to cause or has already caused serious damage.

Officials said the province would remain on standby for further rainfall.

“Mobilize every available resource to ensure there is not a single casualty, while putting lives and the safety of the residents above all else,” said South Chungcheong Gov. Park Soo-hyun.

BY KIM EUN-BIN [[email protected]]