Heavy rain batters Korean Peninsula, triggering sinkhole and evacuations

Two trucks fell into a sinkhole on a road in Sasang District in Busan on Saturday morning. [BUSAN METROPOLITAN POLICE AGENCY]

 
Heavy rains flooded parts of the Korean Peninsula overnight, even causing a sinkhole in Busan on Saturday.
 
The sinkhole, located on a road in Sasang District, swallowed two trucks at around 8:45 a.m. It measured 10 meters (394 inches) wide, 5 meters long and 8 meters deep.
 

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According to the Busan Fire Headquarters, no casualties were reported.
 
As of 11 a.m., Busan had received 223.8 millimeters (8.8 inches) of rain overnight, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
 

Fire authorities drain water from flooded roads in Haeundae District in Busan on Saturday morning. [BUSAN METROPOLITAN CITY FIRE DISASTER HEADQUARTERS]

 
Heavy rain warnings remain in effect for the Yeongdong region of Gangwon, Chungcheong and the southern regions. Southern areas, including parts of Jeolla, Chungcheong and Gyeongsang, are experiencing rainfall between 30 and 50 millimeters per hour, while Gimhae in South Gyeongsang is seeing heavier downpours of up to 60 millimeters per hour.
 
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported that 506 people from 342 households in North and South Gyeongsang, Busan and South Chungcheong were evacuated as of 4 a.m. due to the heavy rains.
 
The majority of them, 436, were residents of North Gyeongsang.
 
Most of the evacuees — 494 people from 330 households — remained displaced, taking shelter in temporary or community facilities, the government said.
 

People with umbrellas walk near Seoul Station in Jung District, central Seoul, as heavy rain batters the country on Saturday. [NEWS1]

 
Heavy rains also flooded 54 sections of public roads, leading to seven incidents of soil loss and the collapse of a retaining wall.
 
A total of 10 private houses were also inundated, impacting more than 10 private facilities, such as stores and factories.
 
As of Saturday morning, 38 sections of roads in Gangwon and South Gyeongsang and other areas, along with 41 underground roadways, were blocked due to safety concerns. Additionally, 430 sections of 17 national parks across the nation remained inaccessible.
 
The interior ministry raised the heavy rain warning level from "caution" to "alert."

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, YONHAP [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]