The heaviest rainfall in 80 years has caused major floods in South Korea’s capital Seoul, swamping roads and metro stations since Monday Aug. 8.
At least nine people have died and six others have gone missing as the country during the three-day rainfall.
Three of the victims included a 47-year-old woman, her sister, and her 13-year-old daughter who drowned after their underground apartment flooded.
Images and videos showed the city and metro stations flooded with water, while cars and buses were nearly or completely submerged.
Other footage showed people moving slowly through roads that had turned into rivers.
The rainfall, which diminished on Wednesday, has damaged 2,800 homes and buildings and displaced at least 1,400 people, many of which are taking refuge in schools and community centers.
Authorities recorded the highest amount of rainfall in decades, with some areas receiving 497mm of rain and up to 141.5mm of rain per hour, the highest rate of rainfall in 115 years, CNN reported.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) recorded the accumulated rainfall since Monday to Wednesday 7 a.m was 525mm in Seoul.
After three family members drowned in their underground home, Seoul has promised to move residents living in underground apartments, which were famously depicted in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite” as dangerous places to live during the rainy season.
The South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol has also promised to mobilize relief efforts and discuss measures to prevent flooding.
