LOOK: Record rainfall in South Korea causes severe floods, kills 9
South Korea was battered by record rains, leaving Seoul with flooded streets, submerged metro stations, and the city without power. Nine people have died and seven have been reported missing.
The torrential downpour began on Monday, Aug. 8, and eased by Wednesday, Aug. 10. According to President Yoon Suk-yeol, it was the heaviest rainfall since South Korea's weather observations began 115 years ago.
Flash floods
Seoul's posh Gangnam district was hard hit, with cars left submerged due to the floods, which stood at 525mm as of Aug. 10.
The streets were turned into rivers—one person, who's said to be a reporter, was seen sitting atop his car in the middle of the flooded road.
.@YonhapNews reporter Park Sang-ryul chilling on top of his Genesis G80 during tonight’s flood in Seoul. pic.twitter.com/nHc2V44g3i
— Anton Hur (@AntonHur) August 8, 2022
People were also pictured wading through the thigh-deep floods as they were attempting to go home.
Because of heavy rains and flood, people are having trouble going home.
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) August 8, 2022
Heavy rain causes flooding & power outages in verious part of #SouthKorea#Seoul #Gangnam pic.twitter.com/uTkqsVD4bo
The subway stations also saw water pouring into them like a waterfall, blocking exits.
비가 너무 많이와서 지하철 출구가.... 막혔음...... 이게 말이 돼...? 거의 홍수야 pic.twitter.com/wbw3T0jWGT
— 멜유 ｡o♡o｡+🎀 (@i_melody_you) August 8, 2022
I already had rain till my knees so I palipali my way home and thanks God I did it because water is flooding over subway stations rn 😭 Hope evryone in Seoul went back home safely this is so scary I saw cars immersed in the water pic.twitter.com/F9EF6g1g5t
— 마마_11214_🆔️ (@Mama21699) August 8, 2022
600 people were affected by the flash flood, with many forced to leave their houses. Even in apartments, water started to come in through elevators.
Three people who lived in a "banjiha," a semi-basement apartment, died after getting trapped. Another died while removing a fallen tree from the sidewalk and is believed to have been electrocuted. In the mountainous Gangwon Province, another was buried in a landslide.
After heavy rain and #flashflood hit #SouthKorea, water started coming inside the apartment as well.#Gangnam #Seoul #flooding #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/rLw9wR0oV9
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) August 8, 2022
The aftermath
Nearly 2,800 establishments and shops were damaged due to the floods while more than 1,100 households were displaced. In Namseong Market in the Gangnam district, workers have begun to clear their stalls of water and debris and have started to salvage the stocks that haven't been destroyed.
Roads along the district were also damaged and riddled with cars.
The Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu was left with debris and mud inside the campus.
Cleanup and recovery efforts have also begun in other affected areas.