Heavy rainfall in South Korea led to widespread flooding and caused a massive sinkhole in Busan on 21 September. The sinkhole, measuring 10 metres wide, 5 metres long, and 8 metres deep, swallowed two lorries. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported.
Background
Busan has experienced record-breaking rainfall since 20 September, resulting in significant flooding and displacing many residents. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that from midnight on 20 September to 8:50 pm that day, the city received 370.6 mm of rain, with a peak rate of 80 mm per hour. As of 4 am on 21 September, authorities reported that 506 people from 342 households in North and South Gyeongsang, Busan, and South Chungcheong had been evacuated due to the heavy rains.
Two lorries fall into sinkhole
At around 8:45 am on 21 September, a Busan Fire Department vehicle providing drainage support fell into the sinkhole. A nearby 5-tonne lorry was also engulfed by the hole. While no injuries were reported, residents are growing anxious as another sinkhole has developed near the accident site.
Damages
In addition to the sinkhole, the city faced numerous incidents related to the heavy rainfall. The Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters received a total of 212 reports by 6:30 pm on 21 September. Most reports involved flooded houses and buildings, submerged vehicles, soil runoff, and manhole backflow. Additionally, asphalt blocks were damaged due to water flowing back into a manhole on a road in Busanjin-gu.
Ongoing concerns
The heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding have raised concerns about the city’s infrastructure and its ability to handle extreme weather events. Local authorities are investigating the cause of the sinkholes and are working on measures to prevent future occurrences. Residents remain on high alert as weather forecasts predict continued rainfall in the coming days.
