At least eight people have died in South Korea’s capital Seoul, South Korean officials said Tuesday after torrential rains cut power, caused landslides and flooded roads and subways.
In the southern part of the city it rained on Monday afternoon (8) with up to 141 mm of rain per hour, the heaviest in decades, according to the country’s official weather service. (More rain pictures can be found at the end of the report)
At least five people died in Seoul and another three in neighboring Gyeonggi province in the early hours of Tuesday, the government security agency said.
President Yoon Sukyeol visited a basement apartment that flooded, causing the deaths of three members of the same family.
The dangers of these underground dwellings, called banjiha, were portrayed in a flooding scene in the Oscarwinning 2020 film Parasite.
Yoon told area residents that he would try to make sure their lives get back to normal as soon as possible. In a note, he instructed officers to review measures to ensure better security at homes.
Of the eight dead, four drowned, including three family members, in flooded buildings, one was electrocuted, another was found under the rubble of a bus stop and the other two died in a landslide, according to the government.
At least nine people were injured and seven are missing.
In the Gangnam district, some buildings and shops were flooded and left without power, while cars, buses and subway stations were flooded and people were stranded.
Lim Nakyung, 31, a mother of two, was forced to spend the night on the fourth floor of a building. She said the situation reminded her of a scene from the 1997 film Titanic:
“I had to go higher and higher because the building was sinking at high speed… I couldn’t believe I was trapped in the building with 40 other people in the middle of Gangnam district,” he said.
Data showed at least 765 facilities were damaged and 52 highways and roads closed.
About 800 people had to evacuate their homes, mainly in the greater Seoul area. Most had to live in schools, community centers, and gymnasiums.
The government raised the crisis alert to the highest level and asked organizations to adjust working hours.
The Meteorological Center has issued warnings for the entire capital and expects heavy rains until at least Wednesday.
See more pictures of the rain below:
1 of 10 A house is destroyed after heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Yonhap via Portal
A house is destroyed after heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Yonhap via Portal
2 of 10 The bridge is flooded after heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Yonhap via Portal
The bridge is flooded after heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Yonhap via Portal
3 out of 10 vehicles swept away by heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Reproduction / Portal
The vehicle was swept away by heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Reproduction / Portal
4 out of 10 vehicles were left in an area flooded during heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea — Photo: Yonhap via Portal
Vehicles were left in an area flooded during heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea (Photo: Yonhap via Portal)
5 in 10 people cross a flooded street during heavy rains that hit Seoul, South Korea — Photo: Yonhap via Portal
People cross a flooded street during heavy rains that hit Seoul, South Korea (Photo: Yonhap via Portal)
6 out of 10 people walk through debris left behind by heavy rains that hit Seoul, South Korea — Photo: Portal/Kim HongJi
People walk through debris left behind by heavy rains that hit Seoul, South Korea Photo: Portal/Kim HongJi
7 out of 10 people walk through debris left behind by heavy rains that hit Seoul, South Korea — Photo: Portal/Kim HongJi
People walk through debris left behind by heavy rains that hit Seoul, South Korea Photo: Portal/Kim HongJi
8 out of 10 vehicles were left in an area flooded during heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea — Photo: Yonhap via Portal
Vehicles were left in an area flooded during heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea (Photo: Yonhap via Portal)
9 out of 10 cleaning teams remove debris left by heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Portal/Reproduction
Cleanup teams remove debris left behind by heavy rains in Seoul, South Korea Photo: Portal/Reproduction
10 out of 10 Heavy rains hit Seoul, South Korea, causing flooding and flooding Photo: Reproduction / Portal
Heavy rains hit Seoul, South Korea, causing flooding and flooding.