Up to 300 mm of torrential rain forecast in the Seoul metropolitan area... Government activates the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters

Very heavy rain is forecast from the early morning of the 18th, mainly over the central region, raising concerns about significant rain damage in the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and the Chungcheong region. The Korea Meteorological Administration said that from the 18th to the 19th, 100 to 200 mm of rain could fall in the Seoul metropolitan area, with more than 300 mm possible in some places. Gangwon Province and the Chungcheong region are also expected to see heavy rain at levels of 50 to 80 mm per hour, accompanied by gusty winds, thunder, and lightning. In response to the heavy rain advisory, the government has activated Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and dispatched onsite situation managers to vulnerable areas. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety emphasized prior inspections and controls for areas at risk of flooding and isolation, such as underpasses, semibasement homes, lowlying areas, and campsites, and asked for active cooperation with evacuation guidance for residents.