Seoul, South Korea has been battered by heavy rains for the third consecutive day, killing at least four people, forcing thousands to evacuate, and destroying properties. The rain, which reached 400 millimeters (16 inches) in some areas, including the city of Gwangju, has left many residents without access to their homes.
As of Friday morning, over 5,000 people had been evacuated from flooded areas, but this number has since dropped to around 3,300. Four fatalities have been reported, with two people still missing. Two individuals were trapped in cars on flooded roads and another died after being swept away by floodwaters in the central South Chungcheong province.
The government has called for a stronger response to disasters, urging more proactive measures to anticipate damage and warn the public. President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the need for better disaster prevention and response strategies, stating that while natural disasters are unavoidable, there is room for improvement in preparedness and communication.
Weather warnings remain in effect for most of South Korea’s western and southern regions, with the risk of landslides and flooding still present through Saturday.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/torrential-rain-pounds-south-korea-third-day-thousands-take-shelter-2025-07-18