The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Heavy downpours cause flooding, damage in southern regions; multiple flights canceled

By Yonhap

Published : May 6, 2023 - 10:25

    • Link copied

This photo taken Friday, shows Airport Station on Gwangju Metro Line 1 flooded with muddy water following heavy rainfall in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul.(Yonhap) This photo taken Friday, shows Airport Station on Gwangju Metro Line 1 flooded with muddy water following heavy rainfall in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul.(Yonhap)

Heavy rainfall in the southern part of South Korea caused property damage Friday, the Children's Day holiday, while also forcing multiple flights and ship services to be canceled.

According to municipal officials in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, the platform at Airport Station on Gwangju Metro Line 1 was flooded with muddy water Friday afternoon, forcing trains to pass without stopping at the station for over an hour, starting at around 4:45 p.m.

Gwangju said its western district of Gwangsan had received 39 millimeters of rain per hour, as of 4:30 p.m., which flooded facilities and roads.

Across South Jeolla Province, hundreds of hectares of rice paddies and barley farms were submerged under big downpours.

Local officials said there were no reports of personal injury.

More rain and windy conditions were in the forecast through early Saturday.

The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued heavy rain warnings throughout South Jeolla Province and also parts of North Jeolla Province.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, 309 flights and 99 boat trips covering 71 routes had been scrapped as of 5 p.m. Friday.

Access to seven national parks located in the mountains or on islands was also closed.

The southern resort island of Jeju was hit with up to 440 millimeters of rain through Friday evening, with even more rain expected through Saturday. (Yonhap)