Three Dead as South Korea Braces for Record-Breaking Rainstorm
Seosan Floods Leave Residents Battling Mud and Mass Evacuations
The western region of Seosan was hit by unprecedented rainfall, with 114.9 mm per hour water soaking markets, apartment complexes, and parked cars. The event marked the highest hourly downpour recorded in South Korea since full records began in 1904.
Fatalities and Evacuations
- Three people lost their lives on Thursday, all in South Chungcheong province.
- A police report identified an elderly man found buried inside a submerged vehicle, another taken away near a stream, and a third discovered dead in a flooded basement apartment.
- Over 1,000 residents were evacuated, with Hongseong County residents ordered to move to safe locations early Thursday morning.
Weather Conditions and Expert Insight
A weather agency official explained the heavy rains were triggered by warm and moist air flowing along the edge of the North Pacific High, creating strong atmospheric instability. This explanation ties the event to broader trends of climate change intensifying global weather extremes.
Business and Community Impact
- A nightclub owner, Choi Hee-jin, described her club as “completely filled with water” and the furniture “just floating around.” She said the scene felt like the world was collapsing.
- A 50‑year‑old restaurant worker, Kim Min‑seo, spent five hours scrubbing muddy floors and noted the water still “has not been fully drained.”
- Several schools and nurseries in the county were closed as part of the evacuation orders.
Historical Context and Government Response
South Korea regularly experiences monsoon flooding, yet recent extreme events, including the floods of 2022 that left at least 11 people dead, have drawn attention to climate change as a primary cause. The government has highlighted the rainfall’s heaviness as the heaviest recorded since the beginning of official records.
