Massive rains batter South Korean capital

By Anadolu Staff

ANKARA (AA) - Torrential rains battered South Korea's capital, Seoul, and its adjacent areas on Thursday, swelling streams, inundating highways, and triggering evacuations.

Northern and southern areas of Gyeonggi province surrounding Seoul were among the hardest hit, recording hourly precipitation of 88.5 millimeters at one point on Thursday morning, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.

Heavy rains led to the evacuation of nearly 900 residents from eight cities and provinces across the nation and the suspension of subway services in the affected areas.

Authorities also issued immediate evacuation orders to residents in several parts of Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong provinces due to swollen streams in the areas.

The capital region experienced hourly precipitation between 30 mm and 60 mm, prompting flood alerts for 10 streams in the broader Seoul area.

The Dongbu Expressway linking Seoul to Gyeonggi was entirely suspended due to heavy rain, while sections of the Naebu Expressway forming an outer ring around the city were also briefly closed before going back into service later in the day.

Both pedestrian and vehicle traffic were suspended on the submersible, double-decker Jamsu Bridge as heavy rainfall raised the water level of the Han River.

The massive downpour also triggered landslide warnings for several parts of Seoul, including Jongno, where heavy rain brought down an embankment in a residential area.