Heavy downpours flood Seoul streets, cause damage

Heavy downpours and strong gusts battered Seoul on Sunday, causing urban flooding and safety hazards across the capital. Gangbuk District recorded the nation’s highest peak hourly rainfall during the storm at 53.5 millimeters. Seoul restricted access to 16 urban streams, blocked flooded roads, activated emergency response measures and canceled outdoor events. Fire authorities received 129 emergency calls by 5 p.m.

Cumulative rainfall in Gangbuk District reached 65 millimeters by 5 p.m., while Songpa District recorded the city’s lowest total at 20 millimeters.

The emergency calls included 47 requests for drainage assistance, 21 reports of fallen trees and 60 public-facility safety inspection requests.

Seoul issued an emergency text alert at 3:16 p.m. and lifted heavy rain advisories for northeastern, northwestern and southwestern districts at 3:30 p.m.

The city activated Level 1 emergency response protocols at 2:40 p.m. and partially operated 12 rainwater pumping stations.

Flooding completely blocked roads beneath the Jeungsan Bridge in Seodaemun District around 3:04 p.m., while a fallen tree obstructed traffic and pedestrians in Gangnam District.

Published Oct 18, 2026 8:08 pm KST

Updated Oct 18, 2026 8:13 pm KST

A road near Yeonsinnae Station in northwestern Seoul is seen flooded due to heavy rainfall, Sunday. Yonhap

Heavy downpours accompanied by strong gusts battered Seoul on Sunday, causing urban flooding and safety hazards across the capital city.

According to municipal officials, localized torrential rain inundated parts of the city, as fallen leaves swept by gale-force winds clogged drainage systems.

Gangbuk District in the northeastern part of the city recorded a peak hourly rainfall of 53.5 millimeters, the highest hourly intensity nationwide during the storm.

By 5:00 p.m., Seoul fire authorities had received 129 emergency calls — 47 calls for drainage assistance, 21 instances of fallen trees and 60 safety inspection requests for public facilities.

Seoul issued an emergency alert via text at 3:16 p.m., urging its residents to stay away from low-lying and high-risk areas amid heavy rainfall in blustery conditions.

While heavy rain advisories covering the northeastern, northwestern, and southwestern districts were lifted at 3:30 p.m., scattered showers persisted throughout the afternoon. Cumulative rainfall as of 5:00 p.m. peaked at 65 mm in Gangbuk District, with the southern Songpa District recording a city-low of 20 mm.

Rising water levels forced city officials to restrict access to 16 major urban streams.

Traffic was also disrupted across key corridors. Roads beneath the Jeungsan Bridge in Seodaemun District were completely blocked around 3:04 p.m. due to flooding. Weather warnings were also issued for major highways, urging drivers to exercise caution on wet roads and against high winds.

A tree fell onto a busy road in Gangnam District in southern Seoul, obstructing traffic and pedestrians. Water levels in northwestern Seoul's Eunpyeong District reached above the knees in some low-lying areas.

Some shop owners were seen manually clearing piles of fallen leaves blocking catch basins to expedite drainage.

The inclement weather forced the cancellation of major outdoor public events, such as the Grand Mint Festival scheduled at Olympic Park in Songpa.

Seoul activated Level 1 emergency response protocols at 2:40 p.m. and partially operated 12 rainwater pumping stations to clear inundated roads.

"Although the rain appears to be letting up, reports of damage continue to come in," a Seoul official said. "Our primary focus is on rapidly resolving pending safety reports and preventing secondary accidents in close cooperation with district offices."

周日，首尔遭遇暴雨和强风袭击，导致首都多处发生内涝和安全隐患。江北区录得此次暴雨期间韩国最高小时降雨量，达53.5毫米。首尔市政府限制了16条城市溪流的通行，封锁了被淹道路，启动了应急响应措施，并取消了户外活动。截至下午5点，消防部门已接到129个紧急求助电话。

截至下午 5 点，江北区累计降雨量达到 65 毫米，而松坡区降雨量为全市最低，为 20 毫米。

紧急呼叫包括 47 起排水援助请求、21 起树木倒塌报告和 60 起公共设施安全检查请求。

首尔于下午3点16分发布紧急短信警报，并于下午3点30分解除东北部、西北部和西南部地区的暴雨预警。

下午 2 点 40 分，该市启动了 1 级应急响应程序，并部分运行了 12 个雨水泵站。

下午 3 点 04 分左右，西大门区亭山桥下的道路完全被洪水淹没，而江南区一棵倒下的树阻碍了交通和行人。

发布于2026年10月18日晚上8:08（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月18日晚上8:13（韩国标准时间）

周日，首尔西北部延新内站附近的一条道路因暴雨而发生积水。（韩联社）

周日，首尔遭遇暴雨和强风袭击，导致首都多处发生城市内涝和安全隐患。

据市政官员称，局部暴雨淹没了城市部分地区，强风吹落的落叶堵塞了排水系统。

该市东北部的江北区录得每小时最大降雨量 53.5 毫米，是此次暴风雨期间全国最高的单小时降雨强度。

截至下午 5 点，首尔消防部门已接到 129 个紧急电话——47 个排水援助电话、21 起树木倒塌事件和 60 起公共设施安全检查请求。

首尔于下午 3 点 16 分通过短信发布紧急警报，敦促居民在强降雨和大风天气下远离低洼和高风险地区。

下午3点30分，覆盖东北部、西北部和西南部地区的暴雨预警解除，但午后仍有零星阵雨。截至下午5点，累计降雨量在江北郡达到峰值65毫米，南部松坡郡的降雨量最低，为20毫米。

水位上涨迫使市政官员限制了16条主要城市溪流的通行。

主要交通干道也受到干扰。下午3点04分左右，西大门区亭山桥下的道路因洪水完全封闭。主要高速公路也发布了天气预警，提醒驾驶员在湿滑路面和强风天气下谨慎驾驶。

首尔南部江南区一棵树倒在繁忙的道路上，阻碍了交通和行人通行。首尔西北部恩平区一些低洼地区的水位已超过膝盖。

一些店主被发现正在手动清理堵塞集水池的落叶堆，以加快排水速度。

恶劣天气迫使大型户外公共活动取消，例如原定在松坡奥林匹克公园举行的盛大铸币节。

首尔于下午 2 点 40 分启动一级应急响应程序，并部分运行 12 个雨水抽水站，以清理被淹没的道路。

首尔一位官员表示：“虽然雨势似乎有所减弱，但受损报告仍在不断传来。我们的首要任务是与各区政府密切合作，尽快处理待处理的安全报告，并防止二次事故发生。”