Heavy rain floods Seoul streets, closes roads and cancels festival

Heavy rain and strong winds flooded streets across Seoul on Sunday, prompting emergency operations, road closures and restrictions on access to urban streams, according to The Korea Times. The weather also forced the cancellation of the Grand Mint Festival.

Municipal officials said windblown leaves clogged drains during localized downpours, contributing to the flooding, the newspaper reported. Damage reports continued even as the rain eased, keeping authorities focused on safety checks and preventing further accidents.

Gangbuk District recorded the storm’s highest hourly rainfall nationwide at 53.5 millimeters, according to The Korea Times. By 5 p.m., cumulative rainfall ranged from 20 millimeters in Songpa District, the lowest in Seoul, to a city-high 65 millimeters in Gangbuk.

Seoul activated its Level 1 emergency response at 2:40 p.m. and partially operated 12 rainwater pumping stations to drain flooded roads. An emergency text alert urged residents to stay away from low-lying locations and other high-risk areas.

Authorities barred access to 16 major urban streams as water levels rose. Flooding also shut roads beneath Jeungsan Bridge in Seodaemun District around 3:04 p.m. In Gangnam District, a fallen tree blocked vehicles and pedestrians, while water climbed above knee height in some low-lying parts of Eunpyeong District.

Seoul fire authorities reported 129 emergency calls by 5 p.m., the newspaper reported. Those included 47 requests for drainage assistance, 21 fallen-tree incidents and 60 requests to inspect public facilities for safety.

Heavy rain advisories covering northeastern, northwestern and southwestern districts were lifted at 3:30 p.m., though scattered showers persisted. The Grand Mint Festival, scheduled for Olympic Park in Songpa, was canceled because of the weather.

A Seoul official said the city was working with district offices to address outstanding safety reports and prevent secondary accidents, according to The Korea Times.