Geoje’s rain disaster was much larger than the first outside reports suggested. Korean local and national coverage shows more than 600 millimeters falling in Geoje during Aug. 17 alone, after several days in which cumulative totals exceeded 800 millimeters in parts of the area. The rainfall set local observation records and triggered landslides, flooding, utility failures and transport disruption across Geoje and Tongyeong.
The most serious incident was a landslide in Okpo-dong that struck an apartment building and killed one person. Other people were injured as the storm moved across the southern coast. Fire authorities said 136 people had been rescued, and a national fire mobilization order brought additional personnel into the area.
Korean education authorities reported rain damage at 41 schools and kindergartens in Geoje and Tongyeong. Water pipes were damaged, power failures were reported, roads were flooded or washed out, and hundreds of residents were moved from vulnerable areas.
The danger does not end when the rain stops
Saturated slopes remain dangerous after the rain stops, damaged water and electricity networks have to be restored, and schools and businesses need inspections before normal operations resume. KBS warned that landslide risk can remain elevated for roughly 48 hours after extreme rainfall.