Seoul: Authorities on Tuesday upgraded a flood alert to a full warning for the Imjin River near the border with North Korea as water levels rose sharply due to heavy downpours and the North's release of water.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Han River Flood Control Office upgraded the alert from an advisory at 3:30 p.m. shortly after the water level at Imjin Bridge in Yeoncheon County, about 60 kilometers northeast of Seoul, reached 10.3 meters, rising 0.1 to 0.2 meters every 10 minutes. The flood control office had issued the advisory earlier at 11:40 a.m. after the bridge's water level rose to 7 meters.
The rapid increase in the bridge's water level is attributed to heavy rainfall in the region and the apparent release of water from a North Korean dam near the inter-Korean border without prior notice. The environment ministry confirmed late Monday, through satellite imagery, the release of water from the Hwanggang Dam on the upper reaches of the Imjin River.
At Pilseung Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjin River in South Korea, water levels measured 10.1 meters at 3:20 p.m., after reaching 8.1 meters at 11:40 a.m., as reported by the flood control office. In response, the office and Yeoncheon County authorities have dispatched mobile safety warnings to residents and visitors, urging them to avoid rivers and evacuate to safe areas.
A unification ministry official urged North Korea to collaborate with the South in addressing natural disasters responsibly, emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the situation. North Korea had previously agreed to consult with South Korea before releasing water from the dam. "Given the limitations we face, including severed communication channels with North Korea, we are monitoring related developments using various technologies, including satellite imagery," the official stated.
This situation recalls a 2009 agreement where North Korea committed to notifying South Korea in advance of any planned water discharge from the Hwanggang Dam, following a tragic incident where six South Koreans lost their lives due to an unannounced release of water.