. Earth Science News .
SHAKE AND BLOW
Record rainfall, flooding in Seoul kill seven
By Claire LEE
Seoul (AFP) Aug 9, 2022

Subway stations and major roads were underwater in the South Korean capital Seoul after record-breaking rains caused severe flooding, with at least seven people dead and seven more missing, officials said Tuesday.

Authorities warned there was more rain to come even as emergency workers struggled to clear the hulks of flooded cars, which AFP reporters saw strewn across major intersections throughout the city.

Dramatic images shared on social media late Monday showed people wading through waist-deep water, metro stations overflowing, and cars half-submerged in Seoul's posh Gangnam district, which was particularly hard-hit when torrential rain battered the city.

The downpour that began Monday is the heaviest rainfall in South Korea in 80 years, according to Seoul's Yonhap News Agency.

"At least seven people died in the Seoul metropolitan area, while seven others are missing, due to heavy rain," an official at Seoul's interior ministry told AFP.

Local reports said three people living in a banjiha -- cramped basement flats of the kind made famous in Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning "Parasite" -- including a teenager, died as their apartment was inundated by floodwaters.

- Climate change -

President Yoon Suk-yeol blamed the record rainfall on climate change and said the government needed to adapt.

"The government must review the current disaster management system from square one, given that abnormal weather caused by climate change is becoming a part of everyday life," he said.

"We should respond all out until the situation is over in order to protect the precious people's lives and property and take steps until the end, until the people feel that they are enough."

But Yoon, who has seen his approval rating plummet to just 24 percent since taking office in May, according to the latest Gallup Korea poll, was facing online criticism for failing to go to the government's emergency control center late Monday.

Local media reported his absence was due to flooding in his area, but Yoon's office denied that was a factor, saying he had decided to stay home as his team, including the prime minister, already had the response in hand.

Yoon still lives in his pre-election accommodation, having declined to move into the presidential Blue House, which he has decried as "imperial" and opened to the public as a park.

"Why did you leave the Blue House" became a trending topic online, as netizens shared videos purportedly showing flooding at his residence alongside mocking comments.

- Gangnam floods -

Gangnam, a wealthy district in southern Seoul -- featured in Psy's 2012 K-pop hit "Gangnam Style" -- received 326.5 millimetres of rainfall on Monday, data from the Korea Meteorological Administration showed.

"Gangnam is said to be the centre of the economy and well developed, but it is ironic that it is so vulnerable to natural disasters," 45-year-old office worker Moon Yong-chun told AFP as he tried to rescue his car from a flooded car park.

"I am shocked by the damage. The same thing happened around 11 years ago, and it is sad that the government has not taken any measures," he added.

The Korea Meteorological Administration warned South Koreans to "be careful of the heavy rain, gusts, as well as thunder and lightning in the central region" for the next few days.

The KMA also said that up to 300 more millimetres of rain was forecast for the central region that includes Seoul through Thursday.

Transportation in South Korea remained highly disrupted Tuesday, with many roads and tunnels closed for safety reasons, Yonhap reported.

Power outages were also reported across the capital late Monday, while some operation of the Seoul metro and railway services was temporarily disrupted by the heavy rain.

Hiking trails at many of the country's national parks were closed and passenger ferry routes, including from Incheon port, were suspended.

bur/ceb/cwl

Meta


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SHAKE AND BLOW
Scores dead in floods in Uganda, Iran and UAE
Kampala (AFP) July 31, 2022
Nine people have lost their lives and many more are feared dead in flooding in the eastern Ugandan city of Mbale after two rivers burst their banks, leaving a trail of destruction, officials said Sunday. Police and the military have been called in to help in search and rescue operations in Mbale, where stranded residents could only watch helplessly as their belongings were washed away by the floodwaters. Mbale City resident commissioner Ahamada Waashaki told AFP that nine bodies had been recover ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SHAKE AND BLOW
Iraq to provide Lebanon with fuel for another year: Lebanon PM

Suspended sediment reduced by rapid revegetation after Fukushima decontamination

Obstructions slow bid to save trapped Mexican miners

Climate, poverty collude to torment Central America

SHAKE AND BLOW
Building the best zeolite

A better way to quantify radiation damage in materials

Magnetic quantum material helps probe next-gen information technologies

New quantum whirlpools with tetrahedral symmetries discovered in a superfluid

SHAKE AND BLOW
Endangered sharks, rays caught in protected Med areas: study

Salt of the earth: Israeli artist's Dead Sea sculptures

Poaching of 'status symbol' date mussels threatens Italy's coasts

Mexico wants to reduce beer production in drought-hit areas

SHAKE AND BLOW
Swiss mountain pass ice to melt completely within weeks

Scandinavian research shows Arctic warming nearly four times as fast as entire globe

Lowest July Antarctic sea ice on record: monitor

Ancient ice ages shapes how seagrasses respond to environmental threats

SHAKE AND BLOW
Brazil farmers bet on environmentally friendly cotton

On the menu at a UK restaurant: carbon footprintl

Extreme heat, price hikes impose tough choices on UK farm

Two more grain shipments leave Ukrain

SHAKE AND BLOW
South Korea flooding death toll rises to nine

Tens of thousands trek rugged trail to glimpse Iceland volcano

Record rainfall, flooding in Seoul kill seven

Seoul seeks to ban basement flats after flooding deaths

SHAKE AND BLOW
Ethiopia govt in 'direct engagements' with Tigray rebels: AU

US not trying to 'outdo' world powers in Africa, says Blinken

US says new Africa strategy will engage leaders, rethink military role

From coffee to toothpaste, Nigerians buy small as hardships bite

SHAKE AND BLOW
Why thinking hard makes you tired

Communication makes hunting easier for chimpanzees

China faces new demographic challenges

Taking your time makes a difference in Neanderthal times









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.