With South Korea’s solemn rainfall pounds, four people died and more than 1,300 were evacuated, authorities warned that non-seasonal flooding would continue.
Two of them were in their 80s. Authorities believe one of them tried to drain the flood from the basement of his house.
The third victim was crushed when the wall fell on his car. Authorities said that a moment ago, he called his wife and said the car had been “swept away.” The fourth victim died of cardiac arrest.
“I don’t understand what this is going to happen,” said Kim Ha-Min, a café owner in Gwangju City. She said it was the first time she had experienced such heavy rain.
More than 1,300 people were evacuated from 16:00 Thursday at 16:00 [Reuters]
Scene of Gongju from central Korea [Reuters]
Record rains have prompted South Korea’s government to raise weather-related disaster alerts to the highest levels.
“Everything except the roof is covered with water [of my house]“Residents in one of the affected areas wrote online.
More than 400mm of rain fell in just half a day in Seosan, the worst city along the country’s west coast – a weather bureau described it as an activity once a century.
Photos and videos on social media show vehicles and houses being flooded and furniture floating in the water.
Ms Kim of Gwangju recorded 426mm of rain on Thursday, saying she was scared because “I’ve never seen floods here before because there are no streams or rivers in this community”.
The 26-year-old had to close her cafe after being flooded: “I drained the water, but the odor of the sewer was so bad that I couldn’t open the business.”
Flood flooded the toilet of Kim Ha-Min cafe in Gwangju [Kim Ha-min]
There are several injuries nationwide reportedly, including two people with hypothermia and two others with leg injuries.
As of 16:00 local time (07:00 GMT), more than 1,300 people have been evacuated.
Authorities urge people to stay away from the riverbank, steep hillsides and underground spaces, warning that the risks of landslides and mountain flooding remain high.
South Korea’s Meteorological Administration said dry air in the northwest is mixed with hot and humid air in the south, especially heavy rain clouds.
But forecasters expect high temperatures to recover next week and there is a possibility of heat waves.
Villagers clear debris on the banks of the Gansang River in central the country [Getty Images]
