Heavy rains left 18 people dead and widespread in South Korea Environment and climate

South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Security said on Monday that 6 -day heavy rains caused floods and landslides and killed at least 18 people and the loss of 9 others.

Heavy rains have swept large parts of South Korea since last Wednesday and caused damage in the mountainous regions mainly in the south and north of the country.

South Korean media reported that the Sanchong area in the South Gyengang Province has witnessed about 800 mm of rain over a period of 5 days starting from Wednesday.

It was reported that heavy rains caused floods and earthquakes, as 18 people were confirmed and 9 others were lost until Monday evening, and the disaster forced more than two thousand people to evacuate their homes.

In Gabong, about 62 km northeast of the capital, Seoul, it was reported that some residents miraculously survived the floods after the rains, which amounted to 173 millimeters, were flooded for only 17 hours.

Gabiong was among a number of places that witnessed a record amount of rain in one day, and broke the highest level of daily precipitation at the national level, which is 156.3 mm, which was recorded on September 30, 1998.

The Ministry of Interior said that the rains caused damage to 1999 general buildings and 2238 private establishments, including farms. While the rains fell on Monday, the National Meteorological Agency issued a warning of an upcoming free wave in the country.

Since Wednesday, the southern regions have fell between 600-800 mm of rain, according to the ministry’s report. South Korean President Lee Jay Meong has ordered a comprehensive response to the catastrophe, his office said.

The President also stressed that the government will push towards the classification of areas that have been severely affected by heavy rains as private disasters, and this classification would provide them with greater financial support and other forms of government support to recover from the effects of floods.

Although the seasonal rainy season is common in July, the density of the current rain is at all. With the expectations of a severe free wave after the floods, relief efforts continue to evacuate trapped visitors and search for missing persons, amid difficult circumstances.

Last year, the country witnessed an unprecedented drought and free rates, and in March and last April witnessed the third largest forest fire in its history, killing 31 people, and came about 24,000 hectares.

The reasons for these repeated disasters – especially fires – are due to a mixture of natural factors such as strong monsoon and mountainous terrain that make up 70% of the country’s area, in addition to the effects of global climate change.