Heavy rainfall in South Korea has caused widespread damage, leading to the death of four people and the evacuation of more than 1,300 residents. The downpour, which is expected to continue, has led authorities to issue the highest weather alert.
Among the victims were two elderly men in their 80s. One of them is believed to have been trying to drain floodwater from his basement when he died. A third victim was trapped under a wall that fell onto his car. Just before the incident, he had called his wife to say that his car was being swept away. The fourth victim passed away from a heart attack, reports BBC.
In Gwangju, a local cafe owner, Kim Ha-min, shared her shock, saying this was the first time she had ever experienced such intense rainfall. “I couldn’t understand how something like this could happen,” she said.
Seosan, the worst-hit city on South Korea’s west coast, saw 400mm of rain in just six hours. This level of rainfall is being described as a once-in-a-century event. In some areas, homes and cars were submerged, with furniture floating in the water.
Residents in other parts of the country have also reported severe flooding. Kim, from Gwangju, said she had to close her cafe after floodwaters entered the building. Despite draining the water, the foul smell from the sewers made it impossible to open.
Injuries have been reported across the country, including hypothermia and leg injuries. As of 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, more than 1,300 people had been evacuated to safer areas.
Authorities have advised the public to stay away from riverbanks, steep slopes, and underground spaces as the risk of landslides and flash floods remains high. Weather experts say that the heavy rain is caused by a mix of dry air from the north and hot, humid air from the south, creating large rain clouds. While rain is expected to continue, temperatures are predicted to rise next week, with the possibility of a heatwave.