By Kim Kang-min
The state weather agency issued a heavy rain watch for Seoul, central, and southern parts of the country on Sunday, with authorities on high alert for potential additional damage from torrential rains.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecasted up to 100 millimeters of rain for the Seoul metropolitan area and issued a heavy rain watch for Incheon since Saturday.
The KMA expanded the advisory to six more areas in South Chungcheong and issued it for Cheorwon, Hwacheon in Gangwon Province, and Gunsan in North Jeolla Province.
Heavy rain advisories are triggered by expected precipitation of over 60 mm in three hours or 110 mm in 12 hours. The government raised the disaster readiness alert to level 2 on Saturday due to concerns about damage from heavy downpours.
The country has been affected by torrential rains since early this month, leading to floods, landslides, and 47 fatalities, with three still missing.