More heavy downpours expected from Thursday

Torrential downpours are expected to hammer the country again Thursday. This follows rains that left at least one person dead and another missing on Tuesday.

An emergency rescue team on Wednesday search for a woman in her 60s that went missing in Busan a day before after heavy rain with maximum precipitation of 68 millimeters (2.6 inches) per hour fell on the city. [BUSAN METROPOLITAN CITY FIRE & DISASTER HEADQUARTERS]

Torrential downpours are expected to hammer the country again Thursday.

This follows rains that left at least one person dead and another missing on Tuesday.

The national weather agency said the country will experience a typical monsoon season starting Thursday afternoon, caused by a well-developed stationary front.

The rain front is expected to move north, visiting the greater Seoul area with over 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) of rain from Thursday afternoon.

Over 200 millimeters of rain is expected in Gangwon and northern Chungcheong as well.

Central regions of the country will see heavy rains starting Thursday afternoon.

Southern regions will experience 30 to 80 millimeters of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning from Friday.

The Korea Meteorological Agency (KMA) announced preliminary heavy rain advisories for central regions, including the greater Seoul area, for Thursday afternoon.

The KMA on Wednesday warned people to be careful near rivers and streams and to drive safely.

Heavy rains that started on Tuesday mostly stopped in the central regions on Wednesday but continued in the southern regions through Wednesday afternoon.

Yeosu in South Jeolla saw some 181 millimeters of precipitation and Suncheon 168 millimeters as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

On Tuesday, torrential rain pounded the Seoul area with over 70 millimeters of rain per hour in the afternoon.

At least 52 people from 33 households evacuated in 10 cities and districts across the country, including Seoul, Busan, North Gyeongsang and Gwangju.

Six houses in Wonju, Gangwon and Gwangju, Gyeonggi, were flooded.

In Busan, at least seven vehicles were submerged in Haeundae District, and 220 households experienced power outages in Suyeong District.

As of Wednesday morning, 19 roads were restricted in several areas, including Busan and Gyeonggi. Entries to some 455 roads in 17 national parks in the country were blocked.

Authorities on the same day continued their search for a 68-year-old woman who went missing at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday near a stream in Sasang District, Busan.

A man in his 70s was found dead near a stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday afternoon, suspected of dying while walking along the stream.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters view the death as an accident, not a casualty resulting from the rain.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, CHEON KWON-PIL [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]