Worst Seoul Storm in 80 Years Kills Eight, Floods Capital
- ranchifarida
- Aug 9, 2022
- 1 min read
At least eight people were killed and six people missing in the Seoul area after one of the heaviest rain storms in 80 years hit the South Korean capital, flooding streets and subway stations and prompting the country’s president to call an emergency meeting.
The storm dumped as much as 141 millimeters (5.5 inches) of water an hour in parts of the region. Another 300-350 millimeters of rain is forecast to fall through Thursday, the Meteorological Administration said, adding to the risks of more flooding.
President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting at the country’s National Disaster and Safety Status Control Center Tuesday.
“I urge authorities to implement all-out measures until the situation comes to an end to protect the lives and property of the people,” Yoon said. The presidential office earlier encouraged companies and government offices to adjust working hours for employees.
The torrential rains that started on Monday and went into Tuesday also caused flooding in parts of the city center, turning some parking lots into ponds. Train and subway services were suspended on several lines, while numerous businesses asked their employees to work from home.
The hourly rain fall figures were the highest since a storm in 1942, Yonhap News Agency reported. Some areas of Seoul received more rain in one day than they typically see in an entire month in the summer, according to data from South’s weather agency.
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