Key facts
- A flood warning has been issued for the Imjin River near the inter-Korean border.
- The alert was upgraded from an advisory due to rising water levels.
- Heavy rainfall and North Korea's release of water from the Hwanggang Dam contributed to the rising levels.
- The water level at Imjin Bridge reached 10.3 meters.
- North Korea released water from the Hwanggang Dam without prior notice, confirmed by satellite imagery.
- Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and evacuate to safe locations.
Authorities in South Korea upgraded a flood alert to a full warning for the Imjin River near the inter-Korean border on Tuesday, as water levels rose sharply due to heavy downpours and North Korea's release of water from a dam.
The Han River Flood Control Office issued the upgraded warning at 3:30 p.m. after the water level at Imjin Bridge in Yeoncheon County reached 10.3 meters, increasing by 0.1 to 0.2 meters every 10 minutes. An initial advisory had been issued at 11:40 a.m. when the water level reached 7 meters.
The sharp rise in water levels was attributed to heavy rainfall in the region and North Korea's apparent release of water from the Hwanggang Dam, located on the upper reaches of the Imjin River. The South Korean environment ministry confirmed the water release using satellite imagery.
The water level at Pilseung Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjin River in South Korea, measured 10.1 meters at 3:20 p.m., having been 8.1 meters at 11:40 a.m.
The flood control office and Yeoncheon County have dispatched mobile safety warnings to residents and visitors, advising them to stay clear of river areas and evacuate to safer locations. A unification ministry official urged North Korea to cooperate responsibly with South Korea on natural disaster management, emphasizing its humanitarian nature. North Korea had previously agreed to provide advance notification before discharging water from the Hwanggang Dam, following a 2009 incident where an unannounced release led to the deaths of six South Koreans.