Flood warning lifted for Imjin River bridge near inter-Korean border after upstream surge

Authorities on Wednesday lifted a flood warning issued for a bridge along a border river near North Korea after surging water levels caused by downpours and North Korea's release of water from a border dam began to recede. The Han River Flood Control Office withdrew the warning for the Imjin Bridge in Yeoncheon County, about 60 kilometers northeast of Seoul, at 5:30 a.m. after upgrading a flood advisory to a warning Tuesday as the water level surpassed 10 meters. As of 6 a.m., the water level at the bridge along the Imjin River stood at 7.72 meters. The water level had reached 11 meters before gradually falling overnight. The water level at the Pilseung Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjin River in South Korea, measured 6.06 meters at 6 a.m. after exceeding 10 meters the previous day, according to the flood control office. The environment ministry believes the water level sharply rose due to North Korea's apparent discharge of water from the Hwanggang Dam near the inter-Korean border without giving prior notice. The ministry has said satellite imagery taken Monday confirmed the rel

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. 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 at 11:40 a.m. after the bridge's water level rose to 7 meters. The bridge's water level has been on a sharp rise as heavy rainfall pounded the county and North Korea appeared to have released water from a dam near the inter-Korean border without giving prior notice. The environment ministry said late Monday that satellite imagery confirmed the release of water from the Hwanggang Dam on the upper reaches of the Imjin River. The water level at the Pilseung Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjin River in South Korea, measured 10.1 meters at 3:20 p.m., after reaching 8.1 meters at 11:40 a.m

Authorities on Tuesday issued a flood advisory for the Imjin River in a county near the border with North Korea as water levels rose sharply due to heavy downpours, with the reclusive North also releasing water from a dam near the border without any advance warning. The Han River Flood Control Office issued the warning at 11:40 a.m., shortly after the water level at Imjin Bridge in Yeoncheon County, about 60 kilometers northeast of Seoul, reached 7 meters, rising 0.2 to 0.3 meters every 10 minutes. The bridge's water level has been on a sharp rise as heavy rainfall pounded the county and North Korea appeared to have released water from a dam near the inter-Korean border without giving prior notice. The environment ministry said late Monday that satellite imagery confirmed the release of water from the Hwanggang Dam on the upper reaches of the Imjin River. The water level at Pilseung Bridge, the northernmost point of the Imjin River in South Korea, measured 8.1 meters at 11:40 a.m., surpassing the 7.5-meter threshold for the second-highest level of the river's flood management scheme, acc