Following days of record-setting rainfall across South Korea, the Han River turned a deep brown Tuesday as sediment-heavy floodwaters surged through Seoul. The shift in color and water levels was triggered by a massive discharge from Paldang Dam, a key facility east of the capital.
On Sunday morning, the dam released water at a peak rate of 8,600 metric tons per second, according to the Ministry of Environment. By evening, outflow slowed to around 4,400 tons per second.
Officials say the release was necessary to prevent overflow, as the reservoir continued to rise from incoming water from upstream dams.
Though the rain has stopped, large-scale discharge is expected to continue. The government said the situation is under control, but it is closely monitoring water levels along the Han River.
mjh@heraldcorp.com
