[Gangwon Province Fire Department]
[Gangwon Province Fire Department]

Heavy rain exceeding 80 millimeters per hour lashed the eastern coast of Gangwon Province on Saturday, flooding roads and trapping vacationers in a valley before rescuers pulled them to safety. A heavy rain warning was issued for Gangneung, and forecasters said more than 150 millimeters of additional rainfall was expected across the East Sea coastal area.

The Korea Meteorological Administration upgraded a heavy rain advisory for the Gangneung flatlands to a heavy rain warning at 9:05 a.m. Saturday, then extended the warning to the Donghae flatlands at 9:20 a.m.

Rainfall of up to 81.4 millimeters per hour was recorded in Gangneung's Yonggang-dong. As of 9:12 a.m., one-hour precipitation totals stood at 70.1 millimeters in Yonggang-dong and 45 millimeters in Bangdong-ri, Sacheon-myeon.

The KMA sent an emergency disaster text alert at 9:14 a.m. warning residents in Gangneung's Jungang-dong area that rain was falling at more than 50 millimeters per hour and urging them to take precautions against flooding.

The sudden downpour submerged sections of road in Sacheon-myeon, Gyo-dong, Jungang-dong and Jibyeon-dong deep enough to reach vehicle wheel hubs, disrupting traffic. Most of the flooding cleared as the rain eased.

Around 10:10 a.m., a multi-vehicle collision on a rain-slicked stretch of the Yeongdong Expressway near Daegwallyeong Tunnel No. 7 in Seongsan-myeon, Gangneung, left three people injured and taken to hospital. Around 9:45 a.m., a house wall collapsed under the heavy rain on Gangneung's Wondae-ro, though no injuries were reported.

Gangneung city raised its disaster safety response center to emergency Level 2 at 9 a.m. Mayor Kim Jung-nam visited the below-ground level of Jungang Market and nearby shops to personally inspect drainage systems and areas at risk of flooding.

Donghae city also elevated its disaster safety response center to emergency Level 2, stepping up its response by restricting access to flood-prone areas including underpasses and riverbanks.

In Inje, rapidly rising stream water trapped a group of vacationers in a valley. Around 8:58 a.m., seven people swimming in a stream near the parking lot of Baekdamsa Temple in Yongdae-ri, Buk-myeon, found themselves stranded as the water surged.

The fire department deployed 30 rescue personnel and nine pieces of equipment, conducting rescue operations using horizontal ropes and boats. Three people were pulled to safety at 10:31 a.m., and the remaining four were rescued about 10 minutes later — all without injury.

The KMA forecast total rainfall of 50 to 100 millimeters across Gangwon's coastal and mountain areas, with more than 150 millimeters possible in some locations. Cumulative totals as of 1 p.m. included 87.5 millimeters at Doma (Gangneung), 84.5 millimeters at Misiryeong Tunnel (Goseong), 81 millimeters at Misiryeong, 73.5 millimeters at Hajodae (Yangyang), 71.5 millimeters at Yeochan (Gangneung), 64 millimeters at Cheongok (Donghae) and 62.5 millimeters at North Gangneung.

The rain offered some relief from the heat wave that had gripped the East Sea coast in recent days. Major beaches including Sokcho Beach were noticeably quieter than a typical weekend, with most parasols folded up and visitors largely staying out of the water.

Inland Gangwon, by contrast, remained under heat wave advisories as temperatures climbed to around 35 degrees Celsius, creating a stark weather divide between the coast and the interior within the same province.

"Heavy rain falling in a short period can cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly, so people should stay away from dangerous areas," a KMA official said.

The agency particularly warned that even after rain stops, water flowing down from upstream can continue to raise stream and river levels. Campers and vacationers were advised to stay away from streams and riverbanks until weather alerts are lifted and to monitor real-time weather updates.


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