New Delhi: Torrential rains created havoc in the South Korea’s capital, Seoul, in which 9 people have been killed ,17 other injured and 7 are still missing, as forecasters warned of more rain to come.
The torrential rain eased on Wednesday, though already-flooded areas could see an additional 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain through Thursday, which could lead to further flooding and mudslides, forecasters warned.
Meanwhile most highways and subway lines had been cleared by Wednesday.
According to local officials on Wednesday, more than 2,500 homes and buildings were flooded.
Flooding in some buildings around the glitzy Gangnam district continued on Tuesday, while subway stations and several roads there had been blocked.
Data showed at least 2,800 public and private facilities had been damaged across South Korea, and more than 1,100 households had been displaced.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) , a total of 525 mm of rain pounded Seoul from Monday to Wednesday morning, while Yangpyeong, 45 km east of the capital, recorded an accumulated 526.2 mm of rain during the period,
A total of 2,676 houses and buildings were inundated, most of them in Seoul, reports Yonhap News Agency.
About 570 people from 398 households, mostly from the wider Seoul area, have been displaced, which left them staying at local schools and gyms.
A further 1,253 people from 724 households across the country have temporarily evacuated, officials said.
The agency, however, maintained a heavy rain warning for Chungcheong province in the central region, where precipitation may reach between 50 and 80 mm per hour.
Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk-yeol apologised to the nation on Wednesday morning after widespread criticism that the capital city lacks adequate flood control measures.
He said the government must come up with fundamental measures to respond to similar events in the future even while carrying out emergency restoration work and assisting victims.
