Nearly 200 mm of rain hits Seoul, surrounding regions; 540 cases of damage reported

Heavy rains battered the Seoul metropolitan area and the eastern province of Gangwon overnight, flooding homes and roads and causing some 540 cases of property damage, officials said Saturday.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, nearly 200 millimeters of rain fell in the metropolitan area and the eastern province of Gangwon between midnight and 10 a.m., with 192.5 mm in Paju, 189.5 mm in Dongducheon, 179 mm in Pocheon, 166.5 mm in Gimpo and 159.5 mm in Cheorwon.

As of 11 a.m., heavy rain alerts remained in place for 10 Gangwon Province regions and a mudslide warning for Pocheon.

Authorities have received reports of 148 cases of flooded homes and roads and 392 cases of fallen trees and other debris.

Despite the downpours, no human casualties were reported, though 95 people from 44 households in six cities were temporarily evacuated as a precaution.

Access to 10 national parks and 275 hiking paths, including those at Mount Bukhan, was closed, while seven ferry routes operating off the west coast were suspended.

Heavy rain is forecast to continue through ...