Geoje, in Nam Gyeongsang province, 300 km southeast of Seoul, recorded over 800 mm of rainfall from 15/8 to early 17/8.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted an additional 80-150 mm of rain today for Nam Gyeongsang province's southern coastal areas, issuing severe heavy rain warnings for 5 areas within the province.

Heavy rain in Geoje triggered a landslide early this morning, damaging a residential building and killing one person. Rescue teams fear more individuals are trapped and continue search operations.

Police and rescue forces received over 20 emergency calls last night regarding flood-related accidents and damage. Several streams in Geoje overflowed, flooding many roads and causing a landslide in one area.

Floodwaters swept away cars, shattered windows, and inundated the ground floors of many shops. Video: X/Top_Disaster

Geoje recorded rainfall up to 100 mm per hour last night. City authorities warned of Mundong reservoir's overflow risk, urging nearby residents to evacuate immediately to higher ground. They also prohibited all vehicles and pedestrians around Gohyeon stream as water levels rose rapidly.

Overwhelmed drainage systems submerged many roads in central areas, including: Sangdong-dong, Suyang-dong, and Sangpyeong-dong. Approximately 20 roads closed.

City buses, intercity buses, and taxis ceased operations. Around 1,500 households and businesses in Ilun-myeon, Gohyeon-dong, and Jangseungpo-dong lost power.

A landslide inundated a residential building in Geoje early on 17/8. Photo: Yonhap

The National Fire Agency of Korea mobilized forces to respond to Geoje's heavy rain and flooding. This morning, the response level rose to level 2 after rescue calls surged, coinciding with high tide.

Acting Director of the National Fire Agency Choi Yong-cheol instructed rescue teams to prioritize saving lives and thoroughly assess risks before deploying operations in flooded areas.

Thanh Danh (According to Yonhap, Chosin, Joongang)