The Gwangju Stream, a river that runs through the city, including Dong-gu, Nam-gu, Buk-gu, and Seo-gu in Gwangju, has risen to flood warning levels due to heavy rainfall. Local governments along the Gwangju Stream have issued evacuation orders for residents.
Gwangju's Dong-gu said in a disaster text message sent at 4 p.m. that 'there is a risk of damage from flooding of the Sotaecheon, Jeungsimcheon, and Gwangju Stream,' urging 'nearby residents to evacuate to the Dong-gu Cultural Center or a safe place.'
Gwangju's Nam-gu also warned that there is a risk of flooding of the Gwangju Stream and asked nearby residents to evacuate to a safe place. Gwangju's Seo-gu urged merchants and residents near the Yangdong underground shopping mall, located above the Gwangju Stream, to evacuate immediately due to potential flooding.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from midnight the previous day until 4 p.m. that day, the accumulated rainfall was 281 mm in Naju, 215.2 mm in Sunchang County, and 271 mm in Pungam, Gwangju. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. that day, Naju received 92 mm and Nam-gu in Gwangju received 66.5 mm of rain.
The Yeongsangang Flood Control Center issued flood warnings at 3:10 p.m. at the Yongdanggyo point in Gwangju, at 3:40 p.m. at the Geungrakgyo and Byeokjin-dong points, and at 4:10 p.m. at the Uchonggyo point.
Flood advisories are divided into flood warnings and flood alerts. The flood control center issues a flood warning if water levels are expected to exceed the warning flood level (50% of the planned flood level), and if water levels continue to rise and are expected to exceed the alert flood level (70% of the planned flood level), it is changed to a flood alert. Flood advisories are issued mainly for each bridge, with variations based on bridge height.