In Pohang, a city located about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, a disaster unfolded as heavy rains driven by Typhoon Hinnamnor overwhelmed an underground parking area at a residential complex. Officials reported that nine people were trapped in the flooded garage after driving in to retrieve their cars, and the incident rapidly became a grave emergency for the local community. Initial reports confirmed the severity of the situation as rescue crews battled rising waters and obstructed access to the levels below ground, working against time in the search for survivors. The event received swift attention from national authorities and emergency responders who coordinated their efforts amid ongoing rainfall and strong currents that made the site dangerous for both victims and rescuers. In line with the official updates shared by Yonhap News Agency, the scene was one of urgent relief and meticulous recovery following the extreme weather brought on by the typhoon’s southeastern passage.
Rescuers worked through the night and into the early hours of the next day, methodically entering the submerged garage to reach the nine individuals who had become stranded. Two people were brought to safety in the early evening around 20:15 local time and again in the early hours of Wednesday, specifically at 02:15. Authorities described the survivors as relatively healthy at the time they were extracted, yet the overall situation remained dire. The remaining seven individuals were rescued earlier in the sequence under alarming conditions, having suffered cardiac arrest at some point in the water. They were subsequently stabilized on site and declared deceased after attempts to resuscitate them, underscoring the extreme danger posed by the floodwaters and the rapid onset of life-threatening events in confined underground spaces. The details released by the investigative and disaster response agencies indicate a grim toll, even as responders emphasized the resilience and professionalism that characterized the rescue operations under such pressurized circumstances.
As daylight broke, rescue teams intensified their efforts to clear the parking structure and thoroughly survey the area for any additional victims who might still be trapped. The operation focused on secure removal of debris, ensuring safe access routes for responders, and continuous monitoring of the water levels that could shift suddenly with shifting weather patterns. While hopes for additional survivors diminished as the hours passed, authorities remained committed to a comprehensive sweep of the site. The incident highlighted the dangerous intersection of heavy rainfall, urban infrastructure, and the vulnerabilities of underground parking facilities in flood-prone areas, prompting a review by city and national disaster management agencies to assess potential improvements in emergency response protocols and early warning systems for similar events in the future.
Pohang bore the heaviest impact from what meteorologists have described as a powerful typhoon that struck the southern region with torrential rain, causing widespread flooding of roads and buildings and triggering landslides. The latest official tallies recorded ten fatalities and two missing persons, with an additional three people injured in the broader disaster scenario as reported by the Central Headquarters for Disaster and Security Measures. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of extreme weather events and the importance of rapid, coordinated emergency response to protect communities in coastal and river-adjacent cities. While the long-term recovery process will begin in earnest, the immediate focus remains on confirming the safety of residents, restoring essential services, and learning from this incident to reduce risk in similar settings in the future, according to official briefings and post-event assessments. Attributions: Yonhap News Agency and the Central Headquarters for Disaster and Security Measures.