Missing Person Search in Gyeongnam Sancheong and Gyeonggi Gapyeong Extended Due to Heavy Rain

The search operation for missing persons from the extreme rainfall that occurred in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, and Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, has been ongoing for over ten days.

With heavy rain forecasted from the afternoon of the 3rd, concerns are growing that search efforts for the missing individuals from various regions, each numbering one, may face disruptions.

According to the fire authorities, the search for Mr. A, an 80-year-old missing person in Sancheong, has been ongoing for the 16th day. Mr. A is presumed to have been swept away by rapid currents while staying at a house in Yulhyeon-ri, Sinding-myeon, Sancheong, at approximately 4:09 PM on the 19th of last month.

At that time, he reportedly grabbed a jujube tree in the yard to avoid being swept away and called 119 for help, but contact was lost thereafter.

On this day, the fire department resumed the search with a team of 237 personnel, utilizing helicopters, drones, rescue dogs, and various equipment.

From the first day of the search, probing poles, detection dogs, and buried person detectors have been employed, but no unusual findings have been reported so far. As a result, areas where manpower-based searches have been completed will deploy heavy machinery to remove debris and sediments while carefully inspecting the site.

However, starting from the afternoon of that day, heavy rainfall of over 250 mm is forecasted in the Jirisan area, including Sancheong and Hadong, raising the possibility that search operations may be suspended.

Gyeongnam Province announced that an emergency heavy rain advisory has been issued for five cities and counties, including Jinju, Hadong, Sacheon, Namhae, and Sancheong, prompting the Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to elevate the initial response stage to emergency level 1.

The Korea Meteorological Administration predicts that up to 80 mm of rain per hour will fall across Gyeongnam by the morning of the 4th.

In response, authorities are providing life jackets to all search activity personnel and plan to determine whether to suspend search operations based on situational assessments by on-site commanders during heavy rainfall.

In Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the search for Mr. B, a man in his 50s who went missing after being swept away by rapids on the 20th of last month at the riverside in Deokhyeon-ri, has been ongoing for the 15th day.

The fire authorities have mobilized 613 personnel and 95 pieces of equipment on the 3rd to conduct extensive searches downstream of the Jojong Stream and around the Bukhan River. Search dogs are deployed for shoreline and foot searches, while underwater searches are being conducted using boats and drones in the Bukhan River area.

However, the search has been prolonged, and despite full mobilization of detection equipment and personnel over the past two weeks, the missing person has not yet been located.

Furthermore, with heavy rain forecasted from the morning of the 5th, ranging from 50 to 100 mm, and up to 150 mm in some areas, fire authorities plan to adjust the search schedule based on rainfall conditions.

Image Source: On the 20th of last month, the village of Sangneung in Saengbyeollyang-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, was buried in debris due to a landslide caused by heavy rain on the 19th. / News1, Flooded Saengbyeollyang-myeon, Sancheong / News1, Reference image for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank