The summer of the ‘water bombs’
The fiercest torrential rain in almost a century battered Seoul and other parts of the country in July, triggering fatal landslides and turning highways into canals and knocking out electricity to neighborhoods. Especially on July 27, Seoul received 440.5 millimeters (17 inches) of rain. Southern Seoul was the hardest hit, at one point receiving a record 60 millimeters of rain per hour, triggering several landslides on Mount Umyeon. The landslides devastated nearby villages, taking the lives of 16 people. Roads also flooded in southern Seoul, submerging subway stations and cars.
Some drivers abandoned their cars in the fast-moving muddy waters, while others scrambled onto their car roofs to wait for help. The Korean media called these big destructive storms “water bombs.”
After the disaster resulted in fatalities, criticisms were raised over the poor drainage system as well as the unpreparedness of the government for heavy downpours that usually occur during the rainy season.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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