25.07.19.Today News : 5 Dead, 4 Missing in Gyeongnam Floods as Sancheong Issues Emergency Evacuation Order

5 Dead, 4 Missing in Gyeongnam Floods as Sancheong Issues Emergency Evacuation Order

• Record-breaking torrential rain causes landslides, casualties, and mass evacuations across Gyeongnam Province; over 70 roads blocked, 2,000+ residents evacuated

On July 19, unprecedented torrential rain with hourly rates approaching 100mm struck the Gyeongsangnam-do region, triggering landslides and flash floods that led to 5 deaths and 4 missing persons. Sancheong County has issued an emergency evacuation order and mobilized all administrative resources to respond.

According to Gyeongnam Fire Department, the downpour on July 19 alone resulted in 5 confirmed deaths, 2 missing persons, and 2 found in cardiac arrest, bringing the total number of major human casualties to 9. Authorities have also received reports of 31 damage-related incidents across the province.

The first fatal landslide occurred at 9:25 a.m. in Byeongjeong-ri, Sancheong-eup, where a home was buried and a woman in her 60s was found in cardiac arrest. Shortly after, at 10:46 a.m., another landslide hit Naeri village, killing two residents in their 40s. At 12:35 p.m., heavy rainfall caused another landslide in Buri village, burying two homes and killing two people in their 20s, with one still missing.

At 12:36 p.m., a house in Danseong-myeon was flooded, and a man in his 60s was transported in cardiac arrest. One additional person remains missing from this incident. Later at 4:20 p.m., a car was swept away by strong currents in Cheongdo-myeon, Miryang, killing the driver in his 60s.

Two residents trapped inside a house in Oegori, Sancheong-eup, remain unreachable due to communication blackouts. So far, firefighters have rescued 16 people and continue ongoing operations.

The torrential rain, which began on July 16, intensified with cumulative rainfall reaching an average of 266.5mm by 3 p.m. on July 19. Sancheong’s Sicheon-myeon recorded 764mm, while Haplcheon’s Daebyeong-myeon and Hadong’s Okjong-myeon received 698mm and 643mm respectively—marking historic levels.

Transportation infrastructure suffered heavy damage. A total of 71 roads, including national and local highways and farm roads, were blocked due to flooding and landslides. The Daejeon-Tongyeong Expressway was partially closed due to slope collapse risks, with the northbound lanes completely shut down.

In addition, 310 public facilities, including riverside areas and infrastructure, have been restricted. A total of 1,821 households (2,350 people) were evacuated, with 419 households (593 people) still unable to return.

Damage assessments reported 267 facility damage cases, including river overflows, levee breaches, and flooded farmland.

Gyeongnam Province raised its emergency response system to Level 3, the highest, and is deploying all available resources for rescue and recovery. Governor Park Wan-soo, visiting the landslide site, stressed, “Every effort must be made to protect lives and prevent further damage. Recovery support will be swift and comprehensive.”

One-line summary : Record-breaking rainfall in Gyeongnam caused 5 deaths and 4 missing persons, prompting Sancheong County to issue an emergency evacuation order for all residents.