SEOUL-(MaraviPost)- At least eight people have died in South Korean capital of Seoul following record downpours that caused floods leading to power outages and forcing hundreds to evacuate.
South Korea’s Interior and Safety Ministry confirmed the news in a statement adding that the victims had been trapped in a flooded semi-basement while nine others were injured and at least seven people were still missing.
Five of the victims died in Seoul after being trapped in flooded building while two others in the neighboring Gyeonggi Province on early Tuesday.
According to Al Jazeera, the downpour was the heaviest in 80 years. The southern part of Seoul received more than 100mm (3.9 inches) of rain per hour on late Monday, with some part of the city receiving 141.5mm rainfall.
The heavy downpour knocked out power, triggered landslides and floods that destroyed homes and the city’s metro system. In the cities, cars, buses and subway stations were submerged under water, leaving many people stranded.
Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) officials said the region should expect heavy rainfall until Wednesday, August 9. The department has also raised the crisis alert to the highest and has requested organizations adjust working hours.
Meanwhile, the KMA has issued heavy rain warnings across the capital and the metropolitan area of 26 million as well parts of Gangwon and Chungcheong Province.
South Korea often experiences heavy rain in summer but the sharp increase in precipitation and frequent torrential rains could be as a result of climate change.
