South Gyeongsang hit by 780 millimeters of rain in three days as government activates emergency response

The Ministry of Interior and Safety activated Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 6 a.m. Monday in response to torrential rain battering the southern coast.

In Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, more than 20 people are stranded by flooding in areas including Hoejin village, with rescue operations underway. About 100 residents of Yesol village in Aju-dong have been evacuated due to the risk of landslides.

Cumulative rainfall from Saturday through 6 a.m. Monday reached 782.5 millimeters in Geoje, 628.9 millimeters in Tongyeong and 428.5 millimeters in Busan's Gangseo district. Hourly peak rainfall hit 124.5 millimeters in Geoje, 101.5 millimeters in Busan's Gangseo district and 97.4 millimeters in Tongyeong.

Yun Ho-jung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and minister of interior and safety, said the government would "do everything in its power, together with relevant agencies, to protect lives until the heavy rain stops and recovery is complete." He urged the public to check safety alerts frequently, avoid hazardous areas such as landslide-prone slopes, valley streams, riverbanks and coastlines, and comply with instructions from authorities.